Submission to council Moruya Bypass 22nd June 2021 : Keith Dance

Submission to council Moruya Bypass 22nd June 2021 Thank you, councillors, for the opportunity to address council on matters concerning the public submission regarding the preferred route for the proposed Moruya Bypass. As one of the 7 affected farmers impacted by this proposal, we, as a group are dismayed and frankly dumbfounded that this option was considered when the obvious choice, the Yellow option was not chosen. We are all are long term owners of these flats, myself since 1978, the Affleck family well before that. The others are the Nicholson’s by two, Whipps, Moruya Rodeo association and on the Southern side of the river the Collett family. Contrary to what the planners thought none of these farms are hobby farms or lifestyle blocks but are the “value add” sectors of much larger farms which produce large numbers of calves to either be grown out, fattened or both to make the enterprises a viable business. I have turned off 216 calves annually for the last decade. For the three or more years of construction, the interference or completely curtailment of these farming operations will place enormous strain on these farming businesses. The damage to both the land and the protected waterways that is going to occur if this proposal happens will be enormous. At our first meeting with the consultants, the highway was to be earth fill from Shelly Road to the edge of my property with bridges over Dooga and Mullenderee creeks. They were told that we had to not only move stock under the highway but tractors, implements and trucks through 4-meter culverts that did not fit. Within two days the highway became a bridge construction from Dooga Creek until it reaches Congo Road with appropriate clearance for south Head Road. To build a 5-meter high 5.5-kilometre bridge with piers every 38 meters across a floodplain without any test drilling or soil sampling to understand the limitations is negligent. How for example during construction will they prevent contamination of the Protected Marine Estate of Malabar lagoon from the disturbed Acid Sulphate soils they will encounter, roadworks constructed for access for the heavy machinery needed for such a build? If for example they encounter wet weather or flood events as is currently happening it will be impossible to not only stop pollutants affecting waterways but also add to inundation of properties on the floodplain and destruction of productive pasture lands. This option clearly is fraught with difficulties and as stated by the consultants was the most expensive option but most likely much more so with the extra length of elevated bridgework required.

The Yellow Option from the highway just South of Percy Davis Drive is completely on Crown and forestry lands to East of the Granite Quarry and within a forest ecosystem that is common throughout the area. This option was chosen back in the late 1980’s as the most direct route to the river, to link up to the road reserve from the river to the Congo Road, then to Noads Road and then linking to the highway at the RMS depot. This route impacts no private land North of the river, does not have the risk of harming the protected waterways and will not denigrate the rural view entering Moruya from the North. There are concerns that the cut and fill will be an issue and will encounter rock. The works done North of Berry recently completed on that bypass shows that such engineering matters can be overcome. I have faith such difficulties will be overcome as we can attest engineers love a challenge. On the Southern section, with common sense and compassionate thinking we should be able to minimise the interference or loss of homes. The Collett’s have been told that the highway will go above the old Dairy therefore if the highway moves East to the open paddock as it meets Congo Road it should not need to affect the homes to the West of Congo Road. As it meets the juncture of Noads Road it needs to move West of Noads Road to then line up to where it will intersect the highway. At that intersection homes are under threat dependant on the design of the on and off ramps. Traffic from Congo would need to divert on an upgraded Noads Road to get to Moruya which would require an extra 500 meters of travel. I am not aware whether the new hospital complex will have access from the Bypass or the entrance will be from just North of the intersection just below the Pear Tree estate entrance. The Purple Option we were told was a not viable as it was too close to town, interfered with Riverside Park and to close to the Braemer Estate. I understand another 25 homes are to be built behind the TAFE college. The Purple option requires about 4.7 kilometres of elevated highway across the floodplain. The bridge crossing may stop both the seaplane operation and the effective firebombing planes using the river to collect water for firefighting. The Yellow option bridge should not be a problem for these operations though the Orange Option bridge placement may be a hazard for the firebombers. Councillors I know that this is a development that is outside your charter. When a development of this scale is envisaged, council will have input through the relevant departments involved. Many years ago, a plan was developed to bypass Moruya with the least effect on productive farming land, on people’s homes and lifestyles. That plan is the Yellow Option and it would be in the best interests for the community if opportunity arises for council should you chose to promote the Yellow option. It will be the cheapest, and the quickest to construct and we think the most appropriate option. If this bypass is built in the correct place, with common sense and compassion for the affected home owners and landowners the best result will be achieved for this community well into the future. Thank you, councillors.