The M1 extension team, in collaboration with its delivery partners John Holland / Gamuda and Seymour Whyte Constructions, partnered with The Smith Family to guide Hunter River High School students in shaping their future careers. This proactive initiative aimed to empower young minds as they navigate the exciting landscape of potential career paths.  The vibrant Careers Talk took place at Hunter River High School, drawing an audience of over 120 students. The M1 extension team, comprised of experts from var

Earlier this month, Transport for NSW together with its northern contractor Seymour Whyte invited Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander high school students from Hunter River High Clontarf Academy to learn about the Heatherbrae Bypass section of the M1 extension to Raymond Terrace project and employment pathways for careers in construction.  Clontarf Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation that works towards improving the lives of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men. Clontarf ‘academies’

In collaboration with our northern contractor, Seymour Whyte Constructions, the M1 extension team recently embarked on a unique community initiative - gathering approximately 350 gum nuts from red gum trees (Eucalyptus Parramattensis) within the project corridor.   This particular species holds special significance, boasting a distinctive appearance with smooth, mottled bark, flower buds, white flowers, and hemispherical fruit. Notably, each gum nut of this protected species contains hundreds of seeds.  Re

Before clearing works started on the northern section of the M1 extension to Raymond Terrace project, the environment team worked with ecologists, overseeing the carving of tree replacement hollows. Transport together with contractors Seymour Whyte and John Holland/Gamuda have been able to protect and enhance biodiversity through installation of carved hollows, with more planned for the near future. Tree replacement hollows create sustainable homes within trees for hollow-dependent birds, bats, reptiles and

In collaboration with our Aboriginal Engagement division, the M1 extension team recently organised an immersive cultural heritage training session that brought together representatives from Transport and our delivery partners. Led by the esteemed OAM Lennie Anderson, a local Worimi custodian, Indigenous Archaeologist, and Cultural and Heritage Consultant, the session was an enlightening journey into the rich tapestry of indigenous culture. From delving into the intricacies of legislation in practice to master

In collaboration with our northern contractor (Seymour Whyte Constructions) the M1 extension team has provided a load of fresh red gums and swamp mahogany to the Port Stephens Koala Hospital for use as feed and habitat for Koalas in their care. The Koala Hospital requires consistent access to fresh native leaves and branches as patients can eat up to 1kg of leaves per day while also using the vegetation as their main habitat. The project will continue to communicate with the Hospital as our Project Ecologist

On 10 October 2023, Transport for NSW in collaboration with its northern contractor (Seymour Whyte Constructions) salvaged approximately 30 Diuris arenaria (Sand Doubletail) orchids from the project corridor. These orchids flower for only 2-3 weeks of the year and are difficult to identify when not flowering, so the project team acted quickly to retrieve and secure the plants. The orchids are endemic to a small area of NSW including in and around Newcastle. When in bloom, they have two grass like leaves with

More than 80 regional business leaders joined the M1 extension team for an industry forum to learn how they can help deliver the Black Hill to Tomago section of the M1 Pacific Motorway extension to Raymond Terrace. In collaboration with Transport for NSW, the forum was led by our southern contractor - John Holland Gamuda JV - together with the Industry Capability Network (ICN) on Wednesday 2 August at Hexham Bowling Club. Attendees were provided with information on how to become a supplier to the project, inc

Biodiversity surveys have started on the M1 extension project to conserve habitat for native species and communities. These surveys, being carried out on a Transport owned property, are the first step to establish the property under a Biodiversity Stewardship Agreement and generate biodiversity credits to meet the project’s offset obligations. The property is located adjacent to Tilligerry State conservation area and provides about 60 hectares of native vegetation. It also contains an abundance of mature tr

Have your say on the M1 Pacific Motorway extension to Raymond Terrace Design and Landscape Plans. Access our interactive map to have your say! As part of our design process, we are asking for feedback from the community on the Design and Landscape Plan (DLP) for each contract section. This includes the 10-kilometre southern contract section from Black Hill to Tomago and the five-kilometre northern contract section from Tomago to Raymond Terrace. The DLPs outline the design and landscape objectives of the M

July 2023Students gain insight into career pathways on the M1 extension project igniting passion and excitement as we progress to construction. On Monday 26 June the M1 extension team participated in an apprenticeship and traineeship event at Maitland Bowling Club funded by the Educational Pathways Program (Department of Education) and organised in partnership with State Training Services. The event brought together over 300 students and parents across the Newcastle region to learn about the project and hear

The M1 extension team recently presented at Transport’s inaugural 2023 ‘building supplier diversity’ workshop with Aboriginal businesses at the NSW Indigenous Chamber of Commerce. As the first of five ‘building supplier diversity’ workshops planned for regional NSW, the session provided Aboriginal businesses with increased knowledge and awareness of Transport’s pipeline of projects, packages of work and prequalification schemes. The workshop included an interactive discussion on the barriers faced

The M1 Pacific Motorway extension project received planning approval from the NSW Minister of Planning on 8 November 2022 and the Federal Minister for the Environment and Water on 13 February 2023. With planning approval received and Conditions of Approval (CoA) confirmed, low impact work for the M1 extension project will start soon. To see what type of work we’ll be doing and where, click on our project update here. ;

We are pleased to announce that the successful tenderers of the two major contracts for the M1 Pacific Motorway extension are John Holland Gamuda Australia Joint Venture and Seymour Whyte Constructions. The Australian Government and New South Wales Government have announced John Holland Gamuda Australia Joint Venture as the successful contractors for the southern contract, which is a 10-kilometre section that extends from Black Hill to Tomago, and Seymour Whyte Constructions as the successful contractors for

The M1 Pacific Motorway extension to Raymond Terrace formal tender period has now closed. We thank all shortlisted contractors for their involvement in this process. We will now assess and evaluate the bids received and we look forward to announcing the successful contractors later this year. Throughout the tender period, we held over 20 tender interactive sessions focusing on technical innovation, design and commercial management. The major construction phase of the extension will be delivered using two desi

June 2022 ; The M1 Pacific Motorway extension to Raymond Terrace Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was on public exhibition between Wednesday 28 July 2021 and Tuesday 24 August 2021. We thank those who engaged with us during this time. We have prepared a submissions report that responds to the submissions received from the community, NSW Government agencies and local councils during the EIS exhibition period. The submissions report is now available on our portal here and on the Department of Planning and