It’s was a profound moment for the shire and the gravitas was not lost on mayor Mark Troy.
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“The completion of the Raleigh to Nambucca Heads Pacific Highway upgrade is great cause for celebration, but in doing so we should reflect on the many lives lost, countless injuries, devastated families and the unreasonable trauma experienced by emergency service response volunteers and agency crews,” he said.
And thus the fanfare associated with the single biggest piece of infrastructure slicing through the Bellingen Shire – a $780 million, four-lane, 22km stretch of 110kph Pacific Highway – was muted with the knowledge that tragically it has come too late for many.
Attending accidents along the deadliest stretch of the Pacific Highway Friday’s is an experience Fire and Rescue NSW’s, Rob Couchman knows all too well. For him and his crew, the benefits are immeasurable.
“As I was driving down the old highway last week, I was noting all the places there had been accidents – all the crosses placed by the side of the road,” Rob said.
“I have been there a lot – by the side of the road and the trauma for colleagues has been enormous. There would not be one local person who doesn't know someone who died … including our group. We too lost a firefighter along this road.
“So FRNSW look forward to the new highway reducing accidents … and we look forward to better access to towns. This road saves time, we can respond to emergencies – that is a real bonus”.
Though ostensibly a project to save lives and improve productivity, for the shire’s animal lovers, there’s plenty of measures to keep the wildlife safe too. These include:
- 29 animal crossing structures to allow animals such as koalas, possums and gliders to safely cross
- 21 fauna underpass structures
- Eight glider crossing points with poles installed
- More than 36.5km of fauna fencing
- 203 nest boxes