Oakey Creek Road, Pokolbin

  • Project typeRoad Safety Upgrades
  • Project scheduleTree Removal: November/December 2022, Road Works : January to May 2023
  • Contractor nameGleeson Civil Engineering
  • Completion Date31 May 2023

Background

Due to the significant casualty crash history on Oakey Creek Road, Pokolbin, Council received grant funding of $2M under the Black Spot / Safer Roads Program to address road safety issues which focussed on a 1.1 kilometre length of the worst road section.

Hunter Valley Wine Country has boomed over the past 15 years with the establishment of many large vineyards, restaurants and tourist accommodation facilities. Oakey Creek Road is a main access route between Cessnock and the wineries in the Mount View and Central Pokolbin vineyards area. The road is used extensively by tourist traffic, commuters travelling to the upper Hunter and by heavy vehicles carrying freight for the local viticulture industry. The area has experienced a substantial uptake in recent years in recreational use.

The nature of the road corridor section in Oakey Creek Road presented particular hazards for road users, particularly at night with narrow road shoulders and vegetation within the clear zone or hazard corridor alignment.

Scope of works

The completed scope of work under the grant included:

  • Construction of new road shoulders (between 0.5m and 1m wide);
  • Widening of narrow drainage culverts;
  • Removal of selected trees and cutting of steep batters;
  • Safety barrier / guardrail installation;
  • Installation of a non-skid surface;
  • Installation of new traffic signage;
  • Installation of edge and centre lines, and
  • Installation of raised reflective pavement markers.

Land remediation

In response to the removal of approximately 300 trees from the Oakey Creek Road corridor, along the one-kilometre stretch of works, the Council has taken significant steps to address the environmental impact. Throughout the project, we diligently followed the recommendations outlined in the Review of Environmental Factors report. These measures were put in place to ensure the replacement of trees in the Oakey Creek Road area.

In November 2022, native plant specialists from Trees in Newcastle embarked on a mission to collect seeds from five different eucalypt tree species. These seeds were then carefully germinated at their nursery in Redhead, resulting in the growth of 1,000 saplings. The five tree species included Eucalyptus crebra, Eucalyptus fibrosa, Eucalyptus molucanna, Eucalyptus tereticornis, and Angophora costata. Additionally, native shrubs were successfully translocated from the construction zone and propagated, resulting in 500 shrubs intended for replanting in the Oakey Creek Road area.

In late August 2023, a total of 1,000 trees and 500 shrubs were thoughtfully planted on five private properties adjacent to the Oakey Creek Road area. To enhance their protection against strong winds and promote their growth, the trees were strategically planted in groupings. This was carried out by a dedicated revegetation team from Eco Logical Australia, who diligently worked over the course of three days to get the natives back in the area.

Before – View towards the east along Oakey Creek Road with Stevens Road to the right

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After – View towards the east along Oakey Creek Road with Stevens Road to the right

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Before – View towards the west along Oakey Creek Road from west of Somerset Lane

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After – View towards the west along Oakey Creek Road from west of Somerset Lane

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Location

Oakey Creek Road, Pokolbin 2320  View Map

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