Port Macquarie-Hastings Mayor Adam Roberts is calling on the NSW Government to urgently prioritise the Oxley Highway corridor between Wrights Road and Lake Road by recognising it as a priority project.
Addressing the media today at Port Macquarie Hastings Council, Mayor Roberts said the time for talking was over and that real action was now required.
"This corridor has been operating at functional capacity for years," Mayor Roberts said. "It's not just a traffic problem anymore – it's a liveability issue. It's affecting our economy, education providers, commuters, emergency services, our safety and our future. Our Council is imploring the State Government to stand tall and hear our repeated calls for urgent change by recognising this corridor as a state priority."
With more than 20,000 vehicle movements daily and over 15,000 new homes planned across the local government area, the Oxley Highway is no longer fit for purpose in its current state.
Council projections show that unless urgent upgrades are planned and funded, peak-hour travel times will increase by 20 minutes by 2030 and up to 40 minutes by 2040, worsening congestion and derailing the State Government's own growth targets.
Despite these damning statistics, no funding was allocated to address the Oxley Highway congestion issue in the NSW Government's June Budget.
The omission has raised serious concerns across the region and strengthened the calls for immediate action.
"This road is a key connector for our region," Mayor Roberts said. "Yet for more than a decade, we've seen little to no progress. It's time the NSW Government formally recognised the scale and urgency of this issue and worked with us to develop and deliver real solutions."
While acknowledging the valuable partnerships Council and the NSW Government has shared in recent years, including the Ocean Drive Duplication Project, Maria River Road upgrade and recent flood recovery projects, Mayor Roberts said the Oxley Highway corridor remains the most pressing infrastructure priority in the LGA.
Since his election in November 2024, he has been working with local Members of Parliament and fellow Mayors across the Mid North Coast to lobby regional infrastructure issues – including repeated calls to address traffic congestion along the Oxley Highway.
He reiterated Council's full commitment to working collaboratively with the NSW Government but stressed that further delay would come at a high cost to the community.
"Our residents don't care who owns the road – they just want it fixed. I am not here to point fingers – I just want to drive real solutions" he said.
"That's why our Council is pleading to NSW Roads and Regional Transport Minister Jenny Aitchison and Premier Chris Minns to formally recognise the Wrights Road to Lake Road roundabouts section of the Oxley Highway as a State Significant Priority Infrastructure Project.
"With this declaration, we can move forward strategically and collaboratively to seek funding and plan for short, medium, and long-term congestion solutions that keep our community moving."
He said he would continue to lead advocacy efforts and engage closely with all levels of government to see this project realised.
"This is about showing our community that although this is a State-managed road, we're not sitting back. As Mayor, I will continue to fight for this corridor to be prioritised, and I will not stop until we achieve real, tangible outcomes."
