This January 2025 photo looking east over the intersection of the M1 Princes Motorway and Mt Ousley Road shows land already cleared for the Mt Ousley Interchange. The next stage of vegetation clearing (to the right of the photo) will start at the end of March. Photo: Transport for NSW.
Work is due to start soon to remove more than five hectares of vegetation between the University of Wollongong campus and the M1 Princes Motorway.
The land will be cleared for construction of the Mt Ousley Interchange, including a new bridge over the M1, a northbound on-ramp, commuter carpark and a new access road into the university.
Extensive vegetation removal has already been carried out on the northern and eastern sides of the motorway and next to Dumfries Avenue.
The clearing last year angered neighbouring residents, who claimed they had not been informed about the extent of vegetation to be removed.
Work to clear the 5.5 ha of land between the uni and motorway is due to start in late March and continue until May.
Transport for NSW (TfNSW) says it understands the community’s concerns about the amount of native vegetation affected but says it is unavoidable.
In its community letter detailing the next stage of vegetation clearing, TfNSW says it will “only remove vegetation where it is necessary to do so”.
“The need for, and extent of, vegetation removal was outlined in the project’s Review of Environmental Factors (REF) which was on public display in 2017 and further revised in the Addendum REF (2022),” the letter says.
“The amount of vegetation removal required has remained relatively consistent since this time. We are working to retain vegetation wherever possible and since detailed design commenced, we have been able to reduce the amount of overall vegetation removal required.
“We engage a suitably qualified and experienced ecologist to complete pre-clearing surveys and inspections and suitably qualified vegetation removal contractors to carry out clearing work.
“Prior to vegetation removal starting, exclusion zones are established and nest boxes have been installed in areas outside the removal area as supplementary fauna habitat.
“We follow a staged removal process for identified hollow bearing and habitat trees that includes assessing habitat trees for native fauna prior to their removal and relocating any found fauna into areas of suitable habitat near the project site.
“Habitat trees are felled last to allow fauna an opportunity to move from habitat trees and, once felled, are checked by the project ecologist for any fauna.
“The project team has worked with local stakeholders to salvage hundreds of native plants before work started, and has donated tree logs to Wollongong City Council for repurposing in outdoor playgrounds.
“The project will continue to work with stakeholders and community groups to achieve biodiversity outcomes through construction and landscaping.”
TfNSW says it is working with local stakeholders, including the Aboriginal community and Illawarra Landcare, on the development of the landscape design and species selection.
“Native vegetation unique to the lower Illawarra escarpment and coastal plain, including blackbutt forest and moist blue gum forest, will be planted extensively as part of the project’s landscaping plan. This will help mitigate the impact building the new interchange has had on vegetation,” it says.
“Generally, planting will not be able to occur until construction has been completed. In some cases, revegetation can commence soon after construction begins in areas where there will not be any further disturbance. We will carry out replanting as soon as possible.”
The project’s Urban Design and Landscape Strategy Report, which was on public display for community feedback in May and June 2024, can be viewed on the project website.
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