Newcastle Inner City Bypass team works to protect threatened plants during construction

newy.com.au – The Newcastle Inner City Bypass project team is working with local landcare groups to protect threatened native plants, including the vulnerable Black-eyed Susan, during construction between Rankin Park and Jesmond, MPs announced on Friday 5 December 2025.

The work aims to balance the benefits of the new road, which is expected to ease congestion for tens of thousands of motorists each day, with the protection and restoration of native vegetation and habitat along the corridor. The project has revised its design and reduced clearing, while also salvaging plants and timber for reuse in conservation, cultural and community projects.

Transport for NSW has partnered with the Hunter Region Landcare Network, Trees in Newcastle and contractor Fulton Hogan to collect vulnerable and native plant species ahead of construction impacts on the Rankin Park to Jesmond section. Conservation work has included the salvage of Tetratheca juncea, commonly known as the Black-eyed Susan, a plant listed as vulnerable in New South Wales.

As part of the salvage program, teams collected seeds, cuttings and other plant material for propagation at a dedicated nursery at Redhead in Lake Macquarie. Plant propagation is already under way for a range of native species, including several types of Eucalyptus, in nurseries managed by Landcare and Trees in Newcastle.

Seed has also been gathered from felled trees that would normally be difficult to collect from due to their height, allowing those genetic resources to be retained and reused in future rehabilitation and planting.

Member for Wallsend Sonia Hornery said the bypass would deliver significant traffic benefits while supporting the local environment. “The Newcastle Inner City Bypass will provide traffic relief for the local community by removing up to 30,000 vehicles each day from the existing route of Lookout Road, Croudace Street and Newcastle Road,” she said.

“A key benefit of this project is Transport for NSW’s commitment to the preservation and restoration of native plant biodiversity, particularly for threatened species like Tetratheca juncea,” Ms Hornery said. “By valuing plant rehabilitation, the project ensures the ecological health of the area is maintained, supporting local wildlife, and sustaining the region’s natural environment for future generations.”

The project team has also placed a focus on reusing timber removed from the corridor. Suitable trees have been salvaged to be reused as bridge timbers for the maintenance of Transport for NSW’s heritage bridges. Other felled timber has been provided to Local Land Services for river restoration work and to local Indigenous people for the production of cultural weapons and tools, supporting the continuation of cultural practices.

The historic Araucaria bidwillii, or Bunya pine, from the Jesmond roundabout has been donated to a local guitar-making school. Appropriate timber from the tree will also be reused on site to provide fauna habitat and assist with rehabilitation during landscaping works.

Design revisions throughout the planning process have moved the project corridor east of its original alignment to reduce impacts on flora, particularly threatened species. Clearing within the project boundary has been limited “to the greatest extent practicable”, resulting in about an eight-hectare reduction in native vegetation clearing compared with the 44-hectare limit originally approved.

Biodiversity offsets have been arranged in line with the NSW Biodiversity Offsets Policy for Major Projects. This includes 3,244 ecosystem credits and 12,690 species credits, covering both direct disturbances and fringe impacts to existing bushland.

Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon said the community expected major infrastructure to progress without sacrificing the local environment. “Newcastle expects major projects to proceed while protecting the precious environment that makes our region so special – that’s exactly what this work is doing. We’re delivering critical infrastructure while safeguarding vulnerable species like the Black-eyed Susan,” she said.

“This is smart, responsible project delivery. By redesigning the corridor and working with our incredible local Landcare groups, we’re keeping native plants in the landscape and reducing impacts wherever possible,” Ms Claydon said. “The Newcastle Inner City Bypass will ease congestion for tens of thousands of motorists, and these environmental protections mean we can do it without sacrificing the natural environment our community values so deeply.”

Transport for NSW and its project partners say propagation, salvage and rehabilitation work will continue alongside construction, with salvaged plants and timber to be used in on-site landscaping, habitat creation and broader environmental projects as the bypass moves towards completion.