PACIFIC HIGHWAY

The Clarence Environment Centre's web site carries a description of a field trip undertaken by environment group members to see first hand the impacts of the proposed preferred route for the Wells Crossing to Iluka Road Pacific Highway upgrade. The group was unanimous in their assessment that the impacts were altogether too great, and must be vigorously opposed.

The web site also shows a copy of Adrian DeVille's short film documentary, ‘Flyover of the proposed Wells Crossing to Iluka Road Pacific Highway upgrade.

Using Google Earth Adrian allows the viewer to fly above the entire 20 kilometre section of the preferred route from Glenugie to Tyndale, and see first-hand the destruction and habitat fragmentation the 100 metre wide clearing will have on forests and wetlands in its path.

After completing the journey, the flight cleverly backtracks to the start where it then follows the alternative alignment along what is known as the Orange option, a route that generally parallels the existing highway. One cannot but notice the relatively low environmental impact of that option.

Our subsequent meeting decided overwhelmingly that we could not support the preferred option, or the full motorway proposal for the Orange option. Instead it was decided that we lobby for an upgrade of the current highway to Class A standard, ie. twin lane - dual carriageway, with bypasses of Ulmarra and South Grafton. Not only would this option save hundreds of hectares of prime habitat and endangered communities, but would likely save the taxpayer hundreds of millions of dollars, and would receive the support of environmentalists and cane farmers alike.

John Edwards.