FAQs

Stage 2 includes a 1km upgrade of Wollombi Road from West Avenue to Allandale Road as well as intersection improvements at Mount View Road and Darwin Street. Intersection improvements will include new traffic lights, signalised pedestrian crossings and line markings. 

Improvements to streetlighting, footpaths, stormwater, kerb and gutter and landscaping improvements will also be completed as part of Stage 2. 

The REF is the planning approval document for the project and is a requirement under Part 5 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.  

The REF has been prepared to examine and take into account all matters affecting or likely to affect the environment as a result of the proposed activities associated with the upgrade of approximately 1km between West Avenue and Allandale Road, Cessnock.

Cessnock City Council has begun the upgrade of Wollombi Road to improve capacity, safety and ease traffic congestion for current and future use.

This upgrade will deliver high-quality, strategic infrastructure to support the growth of the local community. 

Construction on Stage 1 is underway.

Now funding has been secured for Stage 2, the next section has progressed to design and planning with the REF on exhibition including concept designs (this project).

Community and stakeholder engagement for Wollombi Road Upgrade has been ongoing since July 2023. Through a series of community engagement activities and events, Council was able to gather community feedback to inform the design and planning of the road upgrade, and increase awareness about the project and the need to cater for growth in the LGA. 

You can find a summary of our engagement activities to date, and how feedback has been addressed in arriving at the preferred design in the Wollombi Road Design Options Report. 

The roundabout at the Darwin Street intersection will be removed as part of the project. The intersection is set to be upgraded to lights with pedestrian signal crossings. 

Following the completion of detailed design in September this year, Stage 2 construction is likely to begin in early 2026.

Council received a $22.1 million federal government grant via the Housing Support Program (HSP) to fund the second stage of the Wollombi Road upgrade. The HSP supports the delivery of increased housing supply by funding projects within New South Wales that support new housing development like the Bellbird North Urban Release Area. 

The remainder of this project will be funded by Hunter Water and developer contributions.  

Council expects that there will be some overlap between Stage 1 and Stage 2. 

Council and its contractors will be working together to sequence work to minimise disruption to traffic, businesses and residents as both projects are completed.   

Council consulted widely on Stage 1 and Stage 2 design options previously placing the design options report on public exhibition for community feedback. 

Key changes were made to the design based on community feedback including removing the roundabout near Aldi and upgrading the Mount View Road intersection. As well as adding fewer traffic lights than in the design options report previously.

You can have your say on the REF including concept plans as part of this REF exhibition.

Council will continue to keep local residents and businesses informed as work on Stage 2 continues.