Environmental surveys for Moruya bypass get underway

Members of the Moruya Bypass Action Group said landowners were notified just one week before the works were due to commence.

Group member Deb Stevenson said people were concerned about the risks of surveyors coming onto their properties in the midst of a lockdown.

"We're all in lockdown - we can't even go visit our neighbors - yet there are survey teams from Transport for New South Wales coming out," she said.

"We don't know where they've come from, we don't know how long they're going to be here for and we don't know exactly what they're doing."

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A Transport for NSW spokesperson said environmental studies would be carried out at properties in the preferred strategic corridor, commonly referred to as the "orange route".

"[Surveys will] help refine the location and features of the bypass while minimising environmental impacts," the spokesperson said.

"Transport for NSW continues to work with owners and ensures access is granted before entering a property."

The spokesperson said environmental surveys were deemed essential work in line with the NSW government criteria.

"This work is being carried out under current Public Health Orders and a COVID-19 Safety plan is in place, including face masks and QR codes."

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The preferred bypass route is proposed to start near the Moruya industrial area and end near Mountain View Road.

But a number of landholders submitted feedback to Transport for NSW saying the preferred route for the would result in the direct loss of a number of homes and would impact other properties indirectly.

Moruya Thoroughbreds owner Glenda Collins received a notification for the survey after Transport for NSW proposed the bypass go through part of her property.

She said whether the bypass went on or next to her property in the preferred route, her business would need to close.

"We breed thoroughbreds and we adjust thoroughbred horses here and it just won't be feasible to have a four lane, 100-kilometer-per-hour highway along our boundary," she said.

"It's just inconceivable and I cannot understand why they've chosen this route.

"We're just one story, but there are so many others who will be impacted and who will lose their homes."

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Transport for NSW has not released a consultation report summary after the community submitted feedback to the project team in June.

Documents on the Transport for NSW website state the environmental surveys "are not indicative of the location of the preferred location of the bypass".

But the Moruya Bypass Action Group believes the decision on the final route has already been made.

"They say they're in consultation mode, but really they're not," Ms Stevenson said.

"They know what they want to do and they're pushing ahead with it."