Cairns Western Arterial Road
Upgrade Planning.

Client: Jacobs Groups (Australia) Pty Ltd
Industry sector: Infrastructure – transport
Service: Environmental and cultural heritage management
Location: Cairns, Far North QLD

About this Project

The project

To address congestion, improve road efficiency and access, enable better connectivity, and improve safety while meeting the future road transport demands within the Cairns region, the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) delivered a planning study to:

  • Upgrade the Cairns Western Arterial Road (CWAR) between the Redlynch Connection Road and Captain Cook Highway (at Botanica/Caravonica) (including alignment duplication and bridge upgrades) (Work Package A).
  • Upgrade the CWAR intersection with Loridan Drive / View Street (Work Package B).

“Many thanks to the Niche team for your efforts on the CWAR project. It has been a massive undertaking under some very tight timeframes over the past two years and Niche has done well to accommodate the environmental scope under a fast-tracked process.” 

Michael Christie, Director of Operations – Northern Australia, Jacobs  

Our role in the project

Niche were engaged by Jacobs Australia Pty Ltd (Jacobs) on behalf of TMR as the technical lead for both cultural heritage and environmental services for the Project during the Preliminary Evaluation and Business Case for Work Package A, and Options Analysis for Work Package B.

Over two years, Niche provided project management and delivery of Cultural Heritage Risk Assessments, Cultural Heritage Field Assessments, Environmental Scoping Reports, a Review of Environmental Factors Report (including ecological site investigations), an Environmental Management Plan (Site Investigations) and coordination of Traditional Owner monitoring.

Successful environmental and cultural heritage outcomes

The Cairns region is well-known for its significant and complex environmental and cultural heritage values. Throughout the Project, Niche’s locally based environmental and cultural heritage consultants maintained a high standard of work and liaison with all stakeholders for the Project, including Jacobs, TMR, Traditional Owners and regulatory agencies.

Through the application of rigorous analysis of the environmental and heritage values associated with the Project, Niche provided accurate and detailed technical advice regarding legislative triggers and recommendations for best practice and compliant outcomes.

“I am very proud to have been involved in this Project and have thoroughly enjoyed working with Jacobs team to achieve successful environmental and cultural heritage outcomes for the Project.”

Anne-marie Ten Hoorn, Associate – Environment, Niche

The advantages we delivered to this project

  • Locally based and experienced environmental and cultural heritage consultants.
  • Excellent collaborative working relationships with all project stakeholders.
  • Extensive knowledge and experience TMR processes and procedures.

Excellence in your environment