Thurgoona Wirlinga Precinct Structure Plan

The Thurgoona Wirlinga Precinct Structure Plan investigates, identifies and creates a framework that facilitates the development of land in the short, medium and long term and includes practical outcomes in response to:

• Housing yields and density
• Employment areas land provision and location
• Activity centres land provision and location
• Community facilities land provision and location
• Transport and movement networks
• Open space and recreation facilities
• Natural systems
• Utilities
• Land use conflict

Critical to future growth of an area, the Thurgoona Wirlinga Precinct Structure Plan included specific reference to the planning and provision of transportation networks. As a result, one of the key recommendations was the identification of an 'area subject to further investigation for an east west connector road'.

Consequently, the 'Thurgoona Wirlinga East West Connector Road Review' was prepared to determine the need for, and most appropriate alignment of any future east west connector road.

This road alignment was assessed against the following criteria:

• Environmental Impacts
• Constructability
• Safety of Road Users
• Traffic Efficiency and
• Socio-Economic.

Having undertaken detailed investigations, a preferred alignment was chosen from five (5) different options, which has resulted in the development of a hybrid option (Option 6) comprising the western part of Option 4 and the Eastern part of Option 5.

Community Consultation

The East West Connector Road Review was publicly exhibited from 29 March 2014 to 5 May 2014. In response to the public exhibition period, 36 submissions were received including 29 from the general public (including a petition signed by approximately 273 people), 5 from Government agencies and two from various community or interest groups.

Council Decision

Given the weight of submissions received and issues raised and in the absence of a substantial traffic benefit being demonstrated from the construction and eventual operation of an East West Connector Road against the comparable environmental, economic and socio-economic costs identified, council at its meeting dated 14 July 2014, decided to not proceed with the East-West Connector Road.

At this meeting, council instead resolved to consult with the NSW Roads and Maritime Service in the preparation of an 'Interchange Strategy' so as to determine future traffic demands and network requirements citywide, which will inform any upgrades/augmentation to the road network, particularly overpasses and interchanges.