Pacific Highway – Woolgoolga to Ballina – Planning and Preconstruction

Project Description

The Woolgoolga to Ballina – Planning and Preconstruction project involved a number of activities that were undertaken to enable the construction of a four-lane divided highway over approximately 155km between Arrawarra, north of Woolgoolga, and the Ballina Bypass.

Planning and pre-construction works for the Woolgoolga to Ballina upgrade project included:

• Survey and geotechnical investigations
• Property acquisitions
• Relocation of public utilities
• Preparing contract documents, invitation and awarding of contract
• Detailed design for the Woolgoolga to Glenugie section
• Soft soil treatments to stabilise the ground to allow for future construction
• Bridgeworks between Pimlico and Teven (Stage 2)
• Other pre-construction activities associated with the contract to enable substantial construction to commence

Benefits

The project has improved safety, decreased travel times along the Pacific Highway and reduced financial costs associated with travelling along the highway through improved travel efficiency.

Funding

The total cost of the Planning and Preconstruction project was $564.6 million. The Australian Government provided $282.3 million and the NSW Government provided $282.3 million towards the works.

Timetable

The NSW Minister for Planning authorised the preparation of a concept plan for the Woolgoolga to Ballina section on 10 December 2010.  This was followed by the formation of an Alliance in early 2011 between the NSW Roads and Maritime Services, Jacobs Engineering Group (formerly SKM), and Aurecon to refine the concept plan and undertake a detailed environmental assessment in the form of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Woolgoolga to Ballina section. The EIS went on display on 12 December 2012 and the Woolgoolga to Ballina project received approval from the Commonwealth Department of the Environment on 14 August 2014.

Soft Soils Works

AECOM Australia was awarded the contract for the geotechnical design of soft soil treatments on 19 September 2013. 

Golding Contractors was awarded the contract for Wave 1 works (north of Farlows Lane to Yamba Road and locations at Harwood to Chatsworth Road) on 31 March 2015. Major works were completed in February 2017. 

SEE Civil Pty Ltd was awarded the contract for Wave 2 works (Whytes Lane to Pimlico) on 15 April 2015. Major works commenced in November 2015 and were completed in July 2016.

FK Gardner & Sons Pty Ltd was awarded the contract for Wave 3 works (Shark Creek to Maclean, Farlows Flat) on 24 March 2016. Major works were completed October 2017.

SEE Civil Pty Ltd was awarded the contract for Wave 4 works (Tuckombil Canal, south of Woodburn) on 9 March 2016. Major works were completed October 2017.

All soft soils works are now completed or undergoing settlement. 

Pimlico to Teven Stage 2

Leighton Contractors was awarded the contract to construct Stage 2 of the Pimlico to Teven project on 20 September 2013. Major works commenced in November 2013 and the project was completed in May 2016.