A summary of responses to community feedback has been released for the Watts Lane site compound being built to deliver the bridge over the Clarence River at Harwood.

A Roads and Maritime Services spokesperson said the 1.6 kilometre bridge is being built as part of the Australian and NSW governments $4.36 billion Woolgoolga to Ballina section of the Pacific Highway upgrade.

“Community feedback was invited in mid-September for the compound, precast facility and on and off ramp closure at Harwood and has been considered in assessing the suitability of the site at Watts Lane,” the spokesperson said.

“Notifications have been sent to the community to provide a summary of the key comments raised and how their feedback was considered by the project team.

“Community feedback included comments on the location of the site, noise, traffic and contamination. Local residents also provided feedback about flooding because of the new bridge and the site compound.”

The Roads and Maritime spokesperson said flooding was a key consideration for the project team during the site’s planning and assessment. In designing the site, Roads and Maritime Services and their contractor Pacifico focused on the layout and adjusted building and road levels to allow flood water to move around the compound.

“Additionally, they have ensured components with the potential to create contamination or float away are built with a one in 20 immunity or can be pre-emptively moved in a flood,” the spokesperson said.

“The feedback helps the Woolgoolga to Ballina project team minimise impacts as much as possible from the upgrade while delivering this important project.

“Work to build the site compound at the corner of Watts Lane and the Pacific Highway started last week to support major work on the new bridge over the Clarence River at Harwood which will begin early next year.

“Roads and Maritime will continue to work with the community as two lanes are built in each direction between Woolgoolga and Ballina to complete the highway by 2020.”