NSW Government

Great Western Highway Upgrade Program

/

West

East Central

REF WEB PORTAL

  • Home
  • Map
  • Download documents
  • Video and images
  • Next steps
  • Contact us
  • Share

Before/After: Jenolan Caves about 230 metres from the Great Western Highway, looking north-east

Before/After: Great Western Highway, east of Baaners Lane, looking south-east

Before/After: McKanes Falls Road at intersection with the Great Western Highway, looking west

Before/After: Old Bathurst Road, Hartley Historic Village, adjacent to the Hartley Courthouse building, looking north-east

Before/After: Blackmans Creek Road, about 1.1 kilometres from the Great Western Highway, looking south-east

Before/After: Great Western Highway, near the intersection of Mudgee Street (east), looking south

Before/After: Jenolan Caves about 230 metres from the Great Western Highway, looking north-east

Before/After: Great Western Highway, east of Baaners Lane, looking south-east

Before/After: McKanes Falls Road at intersection with the Great Western Highway, looking west

Before/After: Old Bathurst Road, Hartley Historic Village, adjacent to the Hartley Courthouse building, looking north-east

Before/After: Blackmans Creek Road, about 1.1 kilometres from the Great Western Highway, looking south-east

Before/After: Great Western Highway, near the intersection of Mudgee Street (east), looking south

Welcome to the Great Western Highway Upgrade Program, Little Hartley to Lithgow (West Section) REF virtual information room.

Hello and welcome to the virtual information room for the display of the Great Western Highway Upgrade Program Little Hartley to Lithgow (West Section) Review of Environmental Factors (REF) and concept design.

This room will help you learn more about important aspects of the project

For any further questions, please call the Project Team on 1800 953 777 or email us at gwhd@transport.nsw.gov.au.

Enter

Environmental assessment

  • Transport for NSW is committed to a safe and sustainable transport system for the whole state. This means that all transport infrastructure plans, design, construction, operations, maintenance and management will take into account economic, environmental, health, community and social factors.

    The Great Western Highway Upgrade

    The final alignment of the Great Western Highway in Blackheath will be decided through community feedback, alongside further survey work, technical studies and environmental assessments. The Medlow Bath will require assessment under the NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.

    Scoping of stages

    The upgrade program will be delivered in stages or sections. Once a route for each section of the upgrade program has been determined, the project team will prepare a Scoping Report for sections requiring an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) which:

    • describes the project
    • identifies the relevant strategic and statutory context
    • summarises the results of any early community engagement
    • identifies the scale and nature of the impacts of the project
    • outlines the proposed approach to assessment and community engagement.

    This report is submitted to the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE).

  • Environmental Impact Statement

    The EIS will assess the economic, environmental and social impacts of the project to help the community, government agencies and the consent authority to make informed decisions on the merits of the project. The EIS will also include consideration of how to manage any impacts.

    Once the EIS has been prepared, there will be a period of public exhibition where public submissions are invited.

    Considerations and investigations

    Considerations/investigations that Transport for NSW typically undertakes as part of preparing the EIS, include but are not limited to:

    • Air Quality
    • Heritage
    • Aboriginal Heritage
    • Biodiversity
    • Noise and Vibration
    • Visual impact
    • Traffic and access
    • Soil and Water
    • Socio-economic/land use
    • Flood and hydrology
    • Ground Water
    • Bush fire
    • Waste
    • Greenhouse gasses

    Environmental assessment for Blackheath

    When an environmental assessment incorporating Blackheath has been completed, there will be a period of time for display and consultation.

    Engagement with the Blue Mountains community to help inform the decision-making on this matter has, and will continue to be a key part of our planning processes.

    NSW DPIE Approval Process

    img-fluid

Urban design and landscaping

Cultural heritage

Flora and fauna

Water quality

img-fluid

Next steps

Noise and Vibration

Medlow Bath Station and pedestrian bridge fact sheet

Concept design

Pedestrians and cyclists

Urban Design

  • There are three major areas where urban design has a prominent role in road tunnel design. These include: 

    • Limiting the physical and visual impact of the tunnel on the surrounding environment for local residents, integrating local pedestrian and cycle connections and design to enhance local landscape characteristics 
    • Improving the comfort and general driver experience, and to encourage intuitive driver decision making, which has the potential to enhance driver safety
    • Ensuring that the tunnel delivers benefits to tunnel users, and the surrounding urban or rural environment. A successful road tunnel project requires a joint approach to the task of sensitively fitting a tunnel into its built, natural and community environment.
  • For more information: Great Western Highway Katoomba to Mount Victoria Urban Design Framework

    img-fluid

Before and after images

Great Western Highway, east of Banners Lane, looking south-east
Old Bathurst Road, Hartley Historic Village, adjacent to the Hartley Courthouse building, looking north-east
Blackmans Creek Road, about 1.1 kilometres from the Great Western Highway, looking south-east
Jenolan Caves Road about 230 metres from the Great Western Highway, looking north-east
McKanes Falls Road at intersection with the Great Western Highway, looking west
Great Western Highway, near the intersection of Mudgee Street (east), looking south

Urban Design Examples Image gallery

img-fluid
Germany Hugenwald tunnel Operations Building Portal
img-fluid
Leura underpass eatern portal
img-fluid
Leura underpass western portal
img-fluid
Pacific Hwy Coffs Harbour Bypass Proposed Robert Hill Tunel Concept
img-fluid
Pcific Hwy St Helena Tunnel Portal

Have your say

Your feedback will continue to help us refine and improve the design, as well as helping us to consider and appreciate the extent and importance of noise, environmental and social impacts.

Consultation on the Blackheath tunnel route options will close on 28 November at 11:59 p.m.

How can I have my say?

  • Book in for a consultation session in October
  • Pin your comments on the interactive map on this page.
  • Use the 'Have Your Say' form.
  • Contact the project team on 1800 953 777 or gwhd@rms.nsw.gov.au.
  • Short tunnel option
  • Long tunnel option
View map comments

Tunnel bypass underneath Blackheath

View map comments

Option 1 - Northbound towards Blackheath

Option 2 - Northbound towards Blackheath

Blackheath consultation overview

Great Western Highway: Road to Rail

Blackheath Tunnel Strategic Design Portal Locations

Concept design

Watch overview video

Little Hartley to Lithgow (West Section) concept design and REF video presentation

Watch overview video

General online session 30 November 2021

Watch overview video

General online session 11 December 2021

Virtual information sessions

Information Sessions

General online sessions

Targeted online sessions

Face-to-face sessions

Bookings are essential for face-to-face sessions, which will be held pending COVID restrictions or the occurrence of local cases at the time of the events. QR code sign in and proof of double vaccination status will be required.


Tuesday 7 December - Hartley Community Hall, Corner Great Western Highway and Mid Hartley Road, Hartley (book for a 45 minute session).

Registrations will be checked prior to entry, as numbers at each session will be limited for everyone’s safety. If you are unwell on the day, please do not attend the premises.

Transport for NSW (“TfNSW”) is committed to protecting your personal information in accordance with the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (“PPIP Act”). Information collected by TfNSW will be used to register and send you correspondence via your preferred form of contact. TfNSW will not use or disclose your personal information for other purposes unless authorised by law. TfNSW may engage contractors to handle enquiries and process complaints for the Children's Hospital at Westmead upgrade Project. Each contractor is authorised by TfNSW to act on behalf of TfNSW and is required to comply with the PPIP Act as if it was TfNSW. For further information please see the Transport Privacy page or contact us at privacy@transport.nsw.gov.au

Missing information

One or more required fields are missing data, or fields are invalid. Please check your form and submit again.

Error during submission

Something went wrong, please try again.
Please be patient, form submission can take up to 10-30 seconds.

Submission received

Thank you for registering for a consultation session for the Little Hartley to Lithgow (West Section) Review of Environmental Factors (REF) and concept design, as part of the Great Western Highway Upgrade Program.

You will receive an email confirmation shortly with the consultation event details.


Little Hartley to Lithgow (West Section) flythrough video

Cox's River Road flythrough video

Jenolan Cave's Road flythrough video

  • © 2025 NSW Government
  • Powered by SEE
  • لغة
  • 语言
  • 語言
  • Γλώσσα
  • Linguaggio
  • 언어
  • மொழி
  • Ngôn ngữ

Transport for NSW pays respects to Elders past and present, and recognise and celebrate the diversity of Aboriginal peoples and their ongoing cultures and connections to the lands and waters of NSW.

Serpent

Consultation Sessions

General online sessions

Targeted online sessions

Face-to-face sessions

Bookings are essential for face-to-face sessions, which will be held pending COVID restrictions or the occurrence of local cases at the time of the events. QR code sign in and proof of double vaccination status will be required.


Tuesday 7 December - Hartley Community Hall, Corner Great Western Highway and Mid Hartley Road, Hartley (book for a 45 minute session).

Registrations will be checked prior to entry, as numbers at each session will be limited for everyone’s safety. If you are unwell on the day, please do not attend the premises.

Transport for NSW (“TfNSW”) is committed to protecting your personal information in accordance with the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (“PPIP Act”). Information collected by TfNSW will be used to register and send you correspondence via your preferred form of contact. TfNSW will not use or disclose your personal information for other purposes unless authorised by law. TfNSW may engage contractors to handle enquiries and process complaints for the Children's Hospital at Westmead upgrade Project. Each contractor is authorised by TfNSW to act on behalf of TfNSW and is required to comply with the PPIP Act as if it was TfNSW. For further information please see the Transport Privacy page or contact us at privacy@transport.nsw.gov.au

Missing information

One or more required fields are missing data, or fields are invalid. Please check your form and submit again.

Error during submission

Something went wrong, please try again.
Please be patient, form submission can take up to 10-30 seconds.

Submission received

Thank you for registering for a consultation session for the Little Hartley to Lithgow (West Section) Review of Environmental Factors (REF) and concept design, as part of the Great Western Highway Upgrade Program.

You will receive an email confirmation shortly with the consultation event details.


Shared zone for driveways looking north at 104 Great Western Highway

Drag the slider from the left to right to compare the existing road layout with the proposed design.

Looking north on the highway in front of the Hydro Majestic Hotel

Drag the slider from the left to right to compare the existing road layout with the proposed design.

Looking south on the highway from the Mazda Dealership on Station Street

Drag the slider from the left to right to compare the existing road layout with the proposed design.

Looking south along Station Street

Drag the slider from the left to right to compare the existing road layout with the proposed design.

Looking north from the Medlow Bath Railway Station towards Railway Parade

Drag the slider from the left to right to compare the existing road layout with the proposed design.

Looking south on Railway Parade toward the proposed footbridge

Drag the slider from the left to right to compare the existing road layout with the proposed design.

Looking south on Railway Parade toward the proposed footbridge

Drag the slider from the left to right to compare the existing road layout with the proposed design.

Great Western Highway Upgrade Wast REF information session

Missing fields: Some required fields are missing. Please check your form.
Missing fields: Some required fields are missing. Please check your form.
Question already submitted: Sorry, our records indicate that you have already submitted a question.

Thank you for registering for one of our virtual information sessions. We look forward to meeting with you online.

Make another booking

Share this

Thank you for using the Great Western Highway Upgrade Program, Little Hartley to Lithgow (West Section) REF web portal. Transport for NSW invite you to share this information with your friends, family and colleagues via social media or email.

Share this via email

Share this on Facebook

Share this on Twitter

Share this on LinkedIn

Provide your feedback

What do you think of the project?
Suscribe to updates

Your feedback

Missing information

One or more required fields are missing data, or fields are invalid. Please check your form and submit again.

Error during submission

Something went wrong, please try again.
Please be patient, form submission can take up to 10-30 seconds.

Submission received

 

Thank you for your feedback on the updated concept design between the base of Mount Victoria and Coxs River Road, Little Hartley.

Feedback provided during the display of the updated concept design will be addressed as part of the Addendum Review of Environmental Factors (REF) process, and responses will be provided in a Community Consultation Report.

You can contact us on 1800 953 777 or gwhd@transport.nsw.gov.au if you would like to speak to the project team.

Thank you again for your interest in the Great Western Highway Upgrade Program.

Kind regards

The Project Team

Contact us

Subscribe to updates
How do you feel about the proposed upgrade?

Missing information

One or more required fields are missing data, or fields are invalid. Please check your form and submit again.

Error during submission

Something went wrong, please try again.
Please be patient, form submission can take up to 10-30 seconds.

Submission received

Thank you for your submission.

Information sessions and booths

Sydney Gateway is inviting feedback on its concept design. Our team will be in Tempe, Mascot and Wolli Creek from Monday 27 May to Friday 21 June.

Come and meet the team and learn more about the project.


Information sessions:
  • Saturday 1 June, 1pm – 4pm – Clock on/off Cafe, Tempe
  • Thursday 6 June, 8am – 11am – Patchett's Pies, Mascot
  • Thursday 13 June, 4pm – 7pm – Rowers on Cook, Wolli Creek

Information booths:
  • Friday 31 May, 10am – 1pm – East Village Shopping Centre
  • Wednesday 5 June, 10am – 1:30pm – Mascot Woolworths
  • Saturday 8 June, 9am – 12pm – Wolli Creek housing complex

We welcome your feedback throughout all stages of the planning process of Sydney Gateway and look forward to your thoughts on the concept design.

Have your say online

Community Consultation

We will be in the community, to understand the needs of local residents and businesses.

Community Consultation

We will be in the community, to understand the needs of local residents and businesses.

What is an REF?

The REF describes the key features of the Medlow Bath project and assesses the potential environmental and social impacts during construction and operation.

The REF document also makes recommendations on measures to manage and minimise potential impacts from the project.

The REF covers topics such as noise, vibration, traffic, air quality, flooding, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal heritage, and socio-economic, agricultural property and biodiversity impacts.

The REF display is an opportunity for the community to make comment on the environmental impacts and mitigations for the proposed upgrade.

Medlow Bath project

Explore interactive map

Use the interactive map to learn more about the project

Make a submission

You can make a submission on the EIS to the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) either online or by posting a letter.

To make a submission online, create a user account on DPIE's Major Projects website. To create a user account click the ‘Sign In’ icon in the top right of the homepage or under the ‘Services’ tab and then click the ‘Have Your Say’ link.

When you are logged in, find the project you want to have your say on, and click the 'Make a Submission' icon. 

Anyone can make a submission about the project within the exhibition period, which runs from XXXXX.

Before making your submission, please read DPIE's Privacy Statement or telephone 1300 305 695 for a copy. DPIE will publish your submission on its website in accordance with its Privacy Statement.

If you cannot lodge your submission online, you can write to:

Attention: Director - Transport Assessments
Planning and Assessment
Department of Planning, Industry and Environment
GPO Box 39
SYDNEY NSW 2001

If you want DPIE to delete your personal information before publication, please make this clear at the top of your letter. If you post or hand deliver your submission, it needs to be received by DPIE before the close of the exhibition period and include the following:

  • Your name and address (at the top of the letter only)
  • The name of the application and the application number (Medlow Bath; SSI_7666)
  • A statement on whether you support or object to the proposal
  • The reasons why you support or object to the proposal
  • A declaration of any reportable political donations made in the previous two years.

To find out what is reportable, and for a disclosure form, visit the Donations and Gift Disclosure page or telephone 1300 305 695 for a copy. Note the disclosure requirements apply however a submission is made.

For more information on making a submission about this project, please call DPIE on 1300 305 695.


Helpful links

Online submissions

More information & disclosure form

Before/After: Jenolan Caves about 230 metres from the Great Western Highway, looking north-east

Before/After: Great Western Highway, east of Baaners Lane, looking south-east

Before/After: McKanes Falls Road at intersection with the Great Western Highway, looking west

Before/After: Old Bathurst Road, Hartley Historic Village, adjacent to the Hartley Courthouse building, looking north-east

Before/After: Blackmans Creek Road, about 1.1 kilometres from the Great Western Highway, looking south-east

Before/After: Great Western Highway, near the intersection of Mudgee Street (east), looking south