Chamber proposes new alignment for rail underpass

The Peninsula Chamber of Commerce has called for consideration of a bypass of The Bays area with the planned construction of a rail underpass at the bottom of Bulls Hill.

The request comes after Gosford Council has revealed that the total cost of the underpass and improvements to Woy Woy Rd would be about $67 million.

"While the Chamber welcomes the funds for the replacement of the Rawson Rd level crossing, it is the associated works on Woy Woy Rd that are a real cause for concern for the business community", said Peninsula Chamber president Mr Matthew Wales.

"It may be timely to consider the other Bulls Hill option that provided for a new alignment through the Brisbane Water National Park which would not mean the closure of Woy Woy Rd," said MrWales.

"Our major concern relates to the proposed alignment which seeks to provide two travel lanes in each direction, on-road cycle lane and footpaths on Woy Woy Rd between Banyo Close and Nagari Rd including Bulls Hill," said Mr Wales.

"Obviously such works will result in major disruptions to Woy Woy Rd traffic if not the actual closing of the road for the period of construction.

"This would mean that all through traffic would be forced onto Brisbane Water Dr and the West Gosford intersection at the exact time that the NSW Government is planning the major upgrading of that intersection.

"From a business perspective, this would cause significant and unacceptable disruptions to trade, commerce and commuter traffic.

"We are urging the NSW Government to re-think the scheduling of these works so as to ensure that the Peninsula doesn't have both its major access roads disrupted by major construction works at the same time."

Mr Wales said: "Back in March 2011, the then Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell promised $30M to upgrade 2km of Woy Woy which was to include the new rail underpass and the elimination of the Rawson Rd rail crossing with the expected total cost of $45 million.

"We welcomed this project which was to be delivered by 2014-2015.

"We are now advised by Council that the initial strategic design has been completed with the full cost of the works in the order of $67 million.

"This is $20 million over budget.

"The Chamber had earlier flagged this cost discrepancy back in March 2011.

"We are also advised that the works are unlikely to commence before 2014 which gives little prospect of the project being completed by the promised 2015."

Media Release, 28 Apr 2012

Matthew Wales, Peninsula Chamber of Commerce

Photo: Naomi Bridges