Council's Priorities for Strategic Regional Integrated Transport Plan

Bathurst Regional Council has lodged a submission to the Draft Central West and Orana Strategic Regional Integrated Transport Plan (SRITP), outlining key priorities for the Bathurst Region.  

The SRITP outlines a range of short- and medium-term transport initiatives across the Central West. However, Council is further advocating for the inclusion of a much needed Bathurst bypass in this plan, to improve the current freight routes through the city, as well as the expansion of non-road transport options for the Central West and guaranteed funding for Local Government to ensure the vision can be delivered. 

Bathurst Regional Council welcomes the explicit recognition of Bathurst as a regional city with transport needs that intersect directly with major State functions - including freight movement, cross-regional connectivity, resilience, and support for housing growth. Council however encourages Transport for NSW to further strengthen this alignment by acknowledging Bathurst’s gateway role between the Central West, the Blue Mountains, Greater Sydney, and western NSW. 

Council also notes that while Bathurst-specific initiatives are identified in the draft plan, several of Bathurst’s most critical transport challenges - particularly State Road network capacity, the need for a bypass, resilience of key corridors, and the interface between regional freight and local movement - require stronger commitment pathways and adequate State-led resourcing.  

Council notes that the draft plan has many strengths, including that it: 

• Integrates well with State and regional planning frameworks. 

• Draws on demographic data to define challenges. 

• Explicitly considers Aboriginal access, mobility disadvantage, and inclusive design. 

• Acknowledges climate and network vulnerability. 

• Provides a foundation for councils to prepare Local Integrated Network (Transport) Plans. 

However, Council has identified multiple priorities which could be further addressed. These priorities will also be relevant to a future Local Network Plan for the Bathurst Region.  

An overview of these priorities includes: 

• Financial support enabling local governments to deliver overall transport initiatives. Without a dedicated, recurrent State funding program to support implementation, the transport vision risks becoming aspirational rather than actionable. 

• Recognition of the significant policy and network gap created by oversize/overmass transport impacts from the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone extending through Bathurst, where inadequate state road infrastructure reinforces the immediate need for a Bathurst bypass. 

• Planning for well-located housing that recognises the complexity of retrofitting transport solutions in existing urban environments as well as plans for State road network upgrades to support the expanding footprint of regional cities.  

• The necessity of a city bypass or alternative distributor road network to improve the barriers created by the current route through our City, to secure flood immunity for the region and address transport issues for oversized wind turbine components. 

• Explicit inclusion of the expansion of electric rail services into the Central West, connecting our city to the greater metropolitan area, particularly in the absence of commercial flights from Bathurst. Improving non-road transport options is increasingly critical for Bathurst residents accessing metropolitan health, education and employment services. 

• The incorporation of natural disaster hazard mitigation to support plans for upgrades on vulnerable corridors of the region’s road and rail assets. 

• Additionally, Council encourages Transport for NSW to publish a clear, consolidated view of commitments, funding gaps and upgrade sequencing for both the Great Western Highway and Bells Line corridors which reflect hazard vulnerability, freight roles and required long-term safeguarding. 

Council would support the establishment of a Central West & Orana Transport Partnership Forum, or similar to meaningfully coordinate implementation and progress reporting with local government. 

To read more about the Draft Central West and Orana Strategic Regional Integrated Transport Plan and provide your own feedback, visit the link below. Submissions are open until Sunday 14 December. https://www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/sritp/central-west-and-orana  

Media contact: Genevieve Green Media and Communications Officer  

P: 02 6333 6179 M: 0448 685 340 E: genevieve.green@bathurst.nsw.gov.au