Port Macquarie Hastings Councillors have set in motion a plan to improve the road and transport network across the local government area.
At the Thursday Ordinary Meeting of Council, Councillors adopted the Integrated Transport Plan (ITP) which sets about providing priority actions and investment targets to improve the transport network over the next 10 years and beyond.
It follows a period of community consultation on the ITP which showed a desire for improvements to active transport and micro-mobility connections through the development of cycleways and footpaths that create safe and accessible routes for cyclists and pedestrians.
Other areas of the community's focus were congestion issues within the Wrights Road and Lake Road intersections of the Oxley Highway, and the Lake Road corridor and Ocean Drive intersection.
The ITP, jointly developed in partnership with Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW), seeks to address these concerns. It has been developed to align with the strategic direction and planning undertaken with Council's Regional Integrated Transport Strategy (RITS), incorporating priority actions to undertake across the Port Macquarie Hastings transport network.
It provides an advocacy platform to seek funding for key network upgrades for congestion, safety and accessibility.
Port Macquarie Hastings Council (PMHC) Director Community Infrastructure, Robert Fish, thanked the community for its input and feedback into the ITP.
He said PMHC, in collaboration with TfNSW, will now progressively seek funding for the implementation of priority actions within the ITP.
"The goals of the ITP are to reduce congestion, to support a shift in transport mode by making walking, cycling and public transport realistic alternatives for all, and to enhance road safety," Mr Fish said.
"To achieve these goals, focus areas within the plan will be considered in line with relevant funding allocated by Council and/or TfNSW, with further investment from the Australian Government also welcomed to support the enhancement of the transport network across the LGA over the next decade," he said.
Mr Fish said high priority hot spots within the LGA that have caused prolonged and ongoing frustration to motorists as a result of congestion and areas that are the cause of safety concerns are a strong focus of the ITP.
"These locations comprise of several sites along the Oxley Highway corridor including the Wrights Road and Lake Road roundabouts, King Creek Road Intersection, the Pacific Highway Interchange, as well as the Lake Road and Ocean Drive corridors," Mr Fish said.
"There is also a focus on improving accessibility between key destinations by providing active transport (walking and cycling) corridors and public transport service enhancements to provide better multi-modal options, driver behavioural change and a reduction in congestion.
"These include connections such as the schools-to-schools path connection from Kendall to Laurieton, active transport and micro-mobility options in the Pacific Drive, Lighthouse Road and Ocean Drive corridors, and improving walking and cycling route connectivity within Wauchope such as along High Street and Cameron Street."
