The investigation of a form of the Newnes Plateau corridor was initially undertaken as part of the Bells Line of Road corridor study carried out for the NSW and Australian governments by
Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM) in 2004, as part of the assessment for a high standard freight route across the Blue Mountains.
Summary of the findings of this study, specifically to find a route across the Mountains suitable for B-Double trucks over 19 metres can be viewed here.
The full report can be viewed here. It’s 150 pages plus appendices.
A new study was done on the Newnes Plateau in 2008, after several meetings with residents of the Hartley Valley strongly advocated that such a study be done. This report is published on the RTA/RMS Website and can be viewed in sections (due the large volume of material).
Part 1, Chapters 1 & 2, comprising of general background information and history of the Great Western Highway and Bells Line of Road – can be viewed here.
Part 1, Chapter 3 (Previous Investigations), Chapter 4 (Methodology of the Report), Chapter 5 (Consultation), & Chapter 6 (Corridor Identification) can be viewed here.
Part 2, Environmental Constraints : Chapter 7 (Introduction), Chapter 8 (Constraints Identification & Analysis Process), Chapter 9.1 (Constraints Mapping) can be viewed here.
Part 2, Chapter 9.2 (Ecological Environmental Constraints) can be viewed here.
Part 2, Chapter 9.3 (Heritage Environment) can be viewed here.
Part 2, Chapter 9.4 (Social Environment) & Chapter 9.5 (Land Use and Planning Environment) can be viewed here.
Part 2, Chapter 9.6 (Existing Infrastructure) Chapter 10 (Constraint Grid Creation) can be viewed here.
Part 3,
Part 4,
Part 5 Conclusions can be viewed here.
