hhag newsletter 11
Download hhag newsletter 11 as a Word document
HHAG Committee Activity
Since our last newsletter Lynda Lovegrove has resigned from the committee, where she was both active member and filled the role of Secretary. On behalf of the community I have thanked Lynda for all the effort she put in. Trish Ryan, an already active member of the committee, has kindly volunteered to act as Secretary of the group going forward.
Since the last meeting of HHAG there have been a number of meetings, both separate meetings of the HHAG committee and combined meetings with the Hartley District Progress Association, the latter to progress a number of planning issues emanating from the highway upgrade project that are more appropriately pursued as broader Hartley District Progress Association initiatives.
RTA’s May Announcement
Early May saw the release of the RTA’s preferred route report. This has confirmed a costing on the upgrade that are closer to $2billion than $1billion compared to an originally proposed spend of less than half a billion dollars.
In an announcement associated with the release of the report, the Minister for Roads committed to spend $30 million on immediate safety enhancements and confirmed that government had committed $250 million to undertake the Little Hartley Bypass, to resolve the intersection issues at Cox’s River Road, Baaners Lane and Browns Gap road and to implement the RTA’s Southern Alignment Upgrade on River Lett Hill.
Immediate Safety Enhancement Project
We welcome the announcement of the safety enhancement spend. This is consistent with the call we have been making seeking safety enhancements that urgently need to proceed, regardless of, and prior to any general upgrade. In the same vein we are delighted to hear that the RTA has committed to undertake a safety review of the Highway between Lithgow and Mt Victoria and has scheduled public meetings to consult the community on 28th June. This is consistent with a request we made to the RTA and our political representatives, seeking a broadening of the Central West Transport Routes (Safety) Review announced by the government in March that only looked at the GWH west of Lithgow.
Feeding into this process HHAG has produced a detailed list of proposed enhancements that Bob Morris and Trish Ryan have already held some discussions on with Orange corridor residents. We are still seeking further comment and assistance on the development of that list. It can be accessed in detail on the HHAG website at hhag.com.au and follow the link from the home page. If you don’t have access to the website please let us know and we will arrange a hard copy for you. If you think there are any omissions that should be added to this list please let us know.
HHAG view on current status
In many ways the currently proposed safety and general upgrades looks entirely consistent with our call for a safety upgrade of the road through the valley and the redirection of the balance of funds earmarked for the project to enhance rail freight capacity or more appropriate road freight routes.
The $280 million proposed immediate spend looks like a good safety upgrade, subject to a bit of debate about priorities (eg RLH or Forty Bends… which should be the priority?)
The greater than $1billion cost of the balance of the RTA proposal will by necessity defer the project long enough for the fullest debate. Debate on both appropriate routes eg should the Newnes option be reconsidered and whether alternate development of rail freight capacity might be a better spend.
On the former, we note Mayor Castle’s reference to his meeting last week on behalf of the Central West councils with Minister Albanese’s office, seeking action on the BLOR/Newnes corridor. On the latter we note the continually growing constituency interested in the ‘rail rather than road’ debate, including our neighbours in the Blue Mountains who have lent vociferous support to this call.
Future Plannning
The Highway upgrade proposal has brought to light a number of issues that require the fullest integration into the (long awaited) Lithgow Local Environment Plan. Consideration of issues, like how to get the best outcome out of the proposed bypass of the Little Hartley village, soon lead to broader issues of land use and future development. These factors led us to propose that the Hartley District Progress Association support an initiative to seek out the views of the community on the future of the valley. The initial workshop to explore this subject was convened jointly by the HHAG committee and the Hartley district progress Association last weekend, 19th June. The next HDPA Newsletter should provide initial feedback on the thoughts emanating from that workshop. The forty odd attendees should receive some preliminary feedback early next month.
If you have a view on any points expressed here do not hesitate to call.
Ramsay Moodie
Chairman 25th June 2010
63552259 0412283800 99830134
