Port Macquarie Hastings Council has marked a major milestone with the completion of the Ocean Drive duplication, a $123 million project jointly funded with the New South Wales Government.
Port Macquarie Hastings Council’s Ocean Drive duplication was the largest transport infrastructure project undertaken by the local government, funded through $63 million from Council and a further $60 million from the New South Wales Government. The 3.4‑kilometre corridor officially opened in December 2025.
Chris Favaloro, Group Manager for Organisational Project Delivery at Council, described the project as significant in terms of dollars, complexity and community benefits.
“Ocean Drive is our major north-south arterial route on the eastern side of the M1 Pacific Motorway. It connects Port Macquarie CBD to Lake Cathie, Bonny Hills, and the Camden-Haven area, supporting business, community, and industry,” Favaloro said. “It also provides an alternate route when there are issues on the Pacific Motorway.”
Planning and delivering for growth
The Ocean Drive duplication traces back to 2011, when Council received a $10 Million special grant from the State Government following the 2011 State Election for the rapidly growing Mid North Coast region. The business case, finalised in 2020, outlined a need to accommodate projected traffic growth, improve safety, and support active transport connections.
Existing peak‑hour traffic volumes of up to 2200 vehicles per hour were expected to increase by 35 per cent by 2036, with daily traffic anticipated to rise from 15,000 to over 26,000 vehicles per day. Council also identified more than 1500 new homes planned for Lake Cathie-Bonny Hills, further reinforcing the need for a dual‑lane corridor.
The project included intersection upgrades, replacing three roundabouts with signalised intersections, and constructing a four‑lane carriageway.
“Those intersections didn’t match existing levels, so achieving improved longitudinal grades and alignments was a major engineering task,” Favaloro said.
Delivering a project of this scale in a built environment posed unique challenges. The construction team had to work around existing utilities, manage live traffic, and stage works to maintain access to residential estates.
“Half‑and‑half construction with temporary roundabouts allowed traffic to continue moving through the corridor while works progressed,” Favaloro explained.
Ground conditions and extreme weather added further complexity. Wet weather, including two natural disaster‑declared events and significant flooding in early 2025, challenged foundations and pavement construction. Utilities installation required deep trenching for new water and sewer connections, all while ensuring old services could be safely removed.
“Planning and coordination were crucial to avoid clashes and maintain efficiency,” Favaloro said.
Innovation and environmental stewardship
The duplication incorporated extensive active transport infrastructure, including on‑road cycle lanes and an off‑road shared‑use path connecting residential estates to three primary schools and a major Catholic high school.
“Seeing good take‑up on the shared‑use path already is rewarding,” Favaloro said.
Environmental protection was a key focus. The corridor includes four significant koala crossings and dedicated fauna underpasses, complemented by fauna‑friendly fencing and offset planting.
“Koala protection was massive,” Favaloro said. “We established temporary fencing at the start of the job and had provisions for monitoring and managing wildlife throughout construction.
“The self‑closing gates on the shared‑use path prevent koalas from entering the road while still allowing pedestrian access.”
Designing these solutions within a built environment was complex.
“You don’t have a simple corridor; you’ve got footpaths, intersections, and existing utilities. Making that work while maintaining safety for both wildlife and people required bespoke engineering,” he said.
Despite these challenges, the duplication was delivered on schedule. The final cost of $123 million reflected market conditions and the scale of works, including road, utilities, and active transport infrastructure.
A joint governance model with Transport for NSW provided additional expertise and staffing, supporting Council as the principal.
“At this scale, local government doesn’t typically undertake projects of $123 million. Having Transport for NSW involved gave us additional resourcing and access to experience at that level,” Favaloro said.
Community impact and lessons for the future
Early results from the duplication have been positive. Improved intersection design has enhanced accessibility to side streets, and travel times through the corridor have been significantly reduced during peak periods. Favaloro noted the project also supports broader integrated transport planning in the region, connecting to the Council’s Lake Road duplication and future upgrades to the Oxley Highway network.
Residents and road users have responded positively.
“Locals living adjacent to the corridor have provided really strong feedback, especially regarding safety and traffic flow,” Favaloro said. “Landscaping along the route and the shared‑use path have also been praised.”
Council will carry forward lessons from the Ocean Drive project into future works, including collaborative delivery models with state agencies, prioritising constructability in design, and accounting for seasonal ground and weather variations during investigations.
“Traffic staging, coordination of utilities, and early design for constructability are all critical. They save time and costs in the long term and reduce risks during construction,” Favaloro said.
“The Ocean Drive duplication stands as a landmark achievement for Council, combining large-scale infrastructure, engineering innovation, environmental stewardship and community benefit.
“This project isn’t just about building a road. It’s about designing a network that will serve the region for decades to come.”
