Coffs Harbour Bypass

The Coffs Harbour Bypass is a 14km bypass of the Coffs Harbour urban area, from Englands Road in the south to Sapphire in the north. The project was proposed by Transport for NSW as part of the Pacific Highway Upgrade project, funded by the Australian and NSW governments.

The Bypass is identified as Critical State Significant Infrastructure (CSSI) under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.

The Minister for Planning and Public Spaces has approved the project, subject to strict conditions of approval, on recommendation from the department.

The key conditions of approval include:

• requiring biodiversity offsets for impacts to koalas, restoration of key regional and local koala corridors on the Roberts Hill and Gatelys Road ridgelines and the erection of connectivity structures to minimise fragmentation of koala habitat
• early implementation of at-house noise treatment to reduce construction noise impacts, 24-hour tunnelling works within an acoustic shed and additional operational traffic noise monitoring to confirm the effectiveness of noise mitigation measures
• requirement for vegetative screening to create / maintain a visual buffer between residents and new road infrastructure
• implementation of enhanced erosion control measures during construction and operation to minimise impacts on the Solitary Islands Marine Park
• allowing Aboriginal groups / parties to undertake cultural salvage in areas that they have identified as having Aboriginal cultural heritage significance.

View the determination

Community Consultative Committee

A Community Consultative Committee (CCC) was established by Transport for NSW for the Coffs Harbour Bypass to provide a forum for discussion with representatives of the Coffs Harbour community, stakeholder groups and the local council on issues directly relating to the project.

The Department of Planning, Industry and Environment appointed Dr Colin Gellatly (AO) as the independent chair of the Coffs Harbour Bypass CCC.

The department encourages proponents to engage with the community and stakeholder groups at all stages of State significant development and infrastructure projects. Further information and an associated Guideline for community consultative committees is available on our website.

More information

To find out more about the Coffs Harbour Bypass you can:

• visit the Transport for NSW Coffs Harbour Bypass project page
• visit our Major Projects website to view project documents and sign up for project updates on the Coffs Harbour Bypass
• contact us via our online form.

Coffs Harbour Bypass proposed route

Note: click on the map to view a larger version.

Image source: Transport for NSW.

Banner image: Artist Impression of proposed Shephards Lane tunnel (Coffs Harbour Bypass). Source: Transport for NSW.