The Bulahdelah Chamber of Commerce and Tourism has been pushing for the Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) and Great Lakes Council to undertake such a plan and president Brian Cook is urging the community to come along and have a say tonight, February 25.

“Bulahdelah is already well established as a stopping point on the highway so we expect the impact (of the bypass) to be minimal, but if we do it right, we may be able to abate the impact and make the town a better place.”

Mr Cook has been the local chamber president for three years and works in the finance industry.

He says the objective of the town plan should be to attract visitors from both the north and south.

Council and the RTA have engaged Andrews Neil Urban Design Group to undertake the Post By Pass Traffic Facilities and Urban Design Plan.

Consideration will be given to directional signage, public amenities, car parking and landscape treatments.

The plan will also identify opportunities for future land use in the immediate township to meet the needs of its local community and service highway traffic.

The workshop starts at 5.30pm at the Bulahdelah Uniting Church Hall and should finish around 7pm.

For further information contact council’s manager of parks and recreation David Bortfeld on 6591 7360.

The Bulahdelah section of the Pacific Highway upgrade will include construction of approximately 8.6km of four-lane dual carriageway highway to the east of the town.

It will connect the already upgraded Bulahdelah to Cooloongolook section of the Pacific Highway 4km to the north of Bulahdelah, to the Karuah to Bulahdelah upgrade project 4.5km to the south of the town. Major interchanges will be provided to the south and north of the town, allowing access to Bulahdelah for highway motorists.

Substantial clearing has already been conducted including the controversial removal of the culturally significant ‘guardian tree’. Tenders for construction of the bypass have closed and a preferred contractor was expected to be announced in ‘early 2010’.