An orbital road communications strategy and community engagement is listed as an item in the confidential committee section of the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council meeting on November 21.

High-level investigations into orbital road links have been continuing for some time.

The project, if it went ahead, would be a long-term one.

In May 2017, investigations into an orbital road were at the high-level planning stage.

Investigations were at that time continuing after a council report identified a desired connection between Ocean Drive through to the Oxley Highway and beyond to the airport and Hastings River Drive.

In late 2017, high-level investigations into orbital road links were ongoing with the Port Macquarie outer orbital link road corridor feasibility investigation reviewing the potential construction of new link roads in Port Macquarie.

These roads included an east‐west link between the Oxley Highway and Ocean Drive as well as a north‐ south link between the Oxley Highway and Hastings River Drive.

Meanwhile, the council meeting agenda also includes a report on the Port Macquarie town centre pedestrian facility investigations.

Concept plan investigations covered six proposals from a 40km/h zone in the Port Macquarie CBD to a pedestrian crossing at Hayward Street east of Short Street.

The concept designs were the centre of community consultation in June.

The council report said feedback from the community engagement was used to develop recommendations.

One of the report’s recommendations is to partner with Roads and Maritime Services to implement a 40 km/h speed zone in the Port Macquarie town centre.

The council report said the community engagement phase demonstrated strong community support for the 40km/h proposal and this was particularly evident at the stakeholder workshops. 

“Some people felt that traffic speeds within the town centre were already sufficiently slow and such a proposal is unnecessary,” the report said.

However, the report said a high pedestrian activity area helped to alert drivers to the presence of pedestrians moving about or near the road, thus improving safety for all road users.

Other items on the council meeting agenda include the draft Unsealed Roads Policy, library funding cuts, Health and Education Precinct Draft Master Plan, community grant projects for endorsement and the draft Markets Policy.

The meeting begins at 5.30pm on November 21 at the Burrawan Street council chambers.