Thornton Road Network

As part of Council’s long term strategy for the Thornton Road Network, critical infrastructure has been, and continues to be, delivered to cater for the rising population throughout the areas of Thornton and Chisholm. New and upgraded traffic facilities, including roads, bridges and intersections, are all being planned to reduce pressure on existing local and state road networks.

Various major projects have been undertaken by Council, the State Government and private developers in the area to deliver as much of the infrastructure as possible in a timely manner. However more work is needed and in a shorter timeframe than originally planned, due to the accelerated growth in the area.

The Thornton North Development Contributions Plan includes a schedule of road works planned to address road capacity issues in the Thornton area.  A State Government Cap on the level of contributions councils are able to levy on development has left a funding shortfall causing delays to the delivery of infrastructure, particularly road works, across the urban release area. Whilst progress has been made in some areas, a number of additional road infrastructure works have been identified but are currently unfunded or awaiting confirmation of funding.

Council is committed to collaborating and partnering with the State Government to meet the needs and priorities for the Thornton road network, and to seek funding to deliver necessary roads and community infrastructure in Thornton, the neighbouring area and across the City of Maitland.

$153M
Overall costs of Thornton Road Network improvements (as at 2021)
9
Projects completed so far
5
Projects currently underway
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List of Projects
Completed

Haussman Drive (Railway Avenue and Glenroy Street - Stage 1)

  • Description: Installation of traffic lights, road widening and reconstruction, drainage construction and intersection improvements
  • Status: Completed 2021
  • Cost: $5.6M
  • Funding source: Development contributions
  • Delivered by: Council

Settlers Boulevard

  • Description: Central median works
  • Status: Completed in three stages from 2010 to 2020
  • Cost: $2.1M
  • Funding source: Development contributions
  • Delivered by: Developers under Works in Kind Agreements

Fringe Road / Billabong Parade

  • Description: Western interface with flood liable land
  • Status:  Completed in various stages from 2015 to 2020
  • Cost: $2.47M
  • Funding source: Development contributions
  • Delivered by: Developers under Works in Kind Agreements

Raymond Terrace Road / Haussman Drive intersection

  • Description: Construction of central median
  • Status: Completed 2020
  • Cost: $154,000
  • Funding source: Transport for NSW
  • Delivered by: Transport for NSW

Raymond Terrace Road / McFarlanes Road

  • Description: Intersection upgrade
  • Status: Completed 2019
  • Cost: $5.6M
  • Funding source: Development contributions
  • Delivered by: Developers under Works in Kind Agreements

Government Road and Thornclife Avenue / Darleston Avenue

  • Description: Roundabout
  • Status: Completed 2015
  • Cost: $984,379
  • Funding source: Development contributions
  • Delivered by: Developers under Works in Kind Agreements

Raymond Terrace Road / Harvest Boulevard

  • Description: New intersection with traffic lights
  • Status: Completed 2015
  • Cost: $5.6M
  • Funding source: Development contributions
  • Delivered by: Developers under Works in Kind Agreements

Government / Hillgate Drive

  • Description: Roundabout
  • Status: Completed 2014
  • Cost: $1.47M
  • Funding source: Development contributions
  • Delivered by: Developers under Works in Kind Agreements

Raymond Terrace Road / Settlers Boulevard

  • Description: New intersection with traffic lights
  • Status: Completed 2010
  • Cost: $5M
  • Funding source: Development contributions
  • Delivered by: Developers under Works in Kind Agreements
In Progress

Raymond Terrace Road / Government Road

  • Description: Traffic lights and intersection improvements
  • Status: Design and approvals currently underway. Construction anticipated 2021/22
  • Estimated Cost: $13.1M
  • Funding source: Development contributions in conjunction with a successful application for grant funding currently under review
  • Delivered by: Council managed contract

Haussman Drive upgrades (Raymond Terrace Road to Taylor Avenue - Stage 2)

  • Description: Road duplication, installation of traffic lights at intersection of Raymond Terrace Road and Haussman Drive, roundabout at Haussman Drive and Taylor Avenue, construction of a shared path along Haussman Drive
  • Status: Design currently underway, construction starting 2021/22
  • Estimated Cost: $19.6M
  • Funding source: Development contributions
  • Delivered by: Council (and by contract)

Haussman Drive upgrades (Taylor Avenue to Government Road - Stage 3)

  • Description: Road duplication and construction of a shared path along Haussman Drive
  • Status: Design to be completed 2021/22, construction starting 2022/23
  • Estimated Cost: $7.6M
  • Funding source: Development contributions
  • Delivered by: Council

Government Road upgrade

  • Description: Upgrade from Raymond Terrace Road to Somerset Drive
  • Status: Under construction. To be completed in various stages.
  • Estimated Cost: $3.4M
  • Funding source: Development contributions
  • Delivered by: Council

Raymond Terrace Road – Millers Forest to Thornton

  • Description: Safety improvements (not associated with land development in Thornton)
  • Status: Under construction
  • Estimated Cost: $5M
  • Funding source: NSW Government
  • Delivered by: Transport for NSW
Future

Thornton Road / Glenwood Drive

  • Description: Road upgrades from Railway Avenue to Glenwood Dr, intersection improvements at Huntingdale Dr, installation of traffic lights at Glenwood Dr and Thornton Rd
  • Status: Design to be completed 2021/22, construction anticipated to start 2022/23
  • Estimated Cost: $22.1M
  • Funding source: Development contributions (in conjunction with a successful application for grant funding yet to be applied for)
  • Delivered by: Council in stages

McFarlanes Road

  • Description: Road upgrades from Raymond Terrace Rd to Settlers Boulevard
  • Status: Design to be completed 23/24, construction anticipated to start 24/25
  • Estimated Cost: $11.3M
  • Funding source: Development contributions (in conjunction with a successful application for grant funding yet to be applied for)
  • Delivered by: Council

Settlers Boulevard to Government Road

  • Description: Road upgrades along Raymond Terrace Rd
  • Status: Design to be completed 24/25, construction anticipated to start 25/26
  • Estimated Cost: $14.3M
  • Funding source: TBC (Transport for NSW and/or development contributions/grant funding)
  • Delivered by: Council

Government Road to McFarlanes Road

  • Description: Road upgrades
  • Status: Design to be completed 24/25, construction anticipated to start 25/26
  • Estimated Cost: $13.4M
  • Funding source: Development contributions (in conjunction with a successful application for grant funding yet to be applied for)
  • Delivered by: Council

Railway Avenue Bridge

  • Description: Bridge duplication
  • Status: TBC
  • Estimated Cost: $10-15M
  • Funding source: NSW Government
  • Delivered by and responsibility of NSW Government
FAQs
What is the overall cost?

The overall funds required for the future Thornton Road Network improvements is currently estimated to be $76.1M (as at 2021)

 

Who is funding these projects?

The Thornton Road Network is being funded through an assortment of state and federal grants, Council’s Capital Works Program and the Thornton North Development Contributions Plan. In 2021 dollar terms, $128.1M worth of works was identified in the development contributions plan. Funds collected from this plan will be used to deliver part of the overall works, with the remainder to come from grant funding and Council’s Capital Works Program. However, due to a State Government Cap imposed on the level of contributions Council can levy, there will be a shortfall on the anticipated $128.1M to undertake the works.

Council is engaged in ongoing discussions with the State Government in an attempt to secure the gap in funding required to complete the full range of road works through grant programs such as the Housing Acceleration Fund, the Special Infrastructure Contributions Program (State Government) and the State Voluntary Planning Agreements program.

 

What is the Section 94 Contributions Plan? (now known as Section 7.11)

Section 7.11 of the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act 1979 enables councils to levy development contributions as a condition of development consent.  The contributions are used to assist with funding local public infrastructure and facilities required as a consequence of development.  You can view the Thornton North Development Contributions Plan here.

 

What grants have been sourced for these projects?

The shortfall in funding of the Contributions Plan has resulted in the need to explore grant opportunities to deliver the works. Recent grants applied for include:

  • 2020 - Raymond Terrace Road upgrade requested to be included in State Voluntary Planning Agreements Funding Program (SVPA).
  • 2020 - Thornton Rail overpass upgrade requested to be included in draft SVPA.
  • 2018 - Thornton Road and Glenwood Drive Intersection ($8.68M) (Application not successful)
  • 2017 - Raymond Terrace Road and Government Road Housing Acceleration Fund application($9.5M). $1.4M was part awarded for Intersection Design and Business Case (January 2019). Decision pending on application for balance of funding.
  • 2017 - Thornton Road, Rail Overpass, Glenwood Drive Intersection and Huntingdale Intersection ($51M) (Application not successful)
Why haven't we applied for grant funding for the projects that need it to progress?

For some projects, Council has not yet submitted a grant application because there has been no suitable grant funding stream opened for which these projects would qualify.

 

Who can I contact about road projects?

To find out more information about projects delivered by Council, contact our Customer Experience Team on 4934 9700.

  • Raymond Terrace Road / McFarlanes Road
  • Raymond Terrace Road / Harvest Boulevard
  • Government Road and Thornclife Avenue / Darleston Avenue
  • Raymond Terrace Road / Settlers Boulevard
  • Government / Hillgate Drive
  • Settlers Boulevard
  • Fringe Road / Billabong Parade
  • Haussman Drive - Stage 1
  • Raymond Terrace Road / Haussman Drive intersection
  • Haussman Drive upgrades - Stage 2
  • Haussman Drive upgrades - Stage 3
  • Government Road upgrade
  • Raymond Terrace Road – Millers Forest to Thornton
  • Raymond Terrace Road / Government Road intersection
  • Thornton Road / Glenwood Drive
  • McFarlanes Road
  • Settlers Boulevard to Government Road
  • Government Road to McFarlanes Road
  • Railway Avenue Bridge