The Albanese and Minns Labor governments are making progress on the much-anticipated Milton-Ulladulla bypass, with the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) now on public exhibition.
The release of the EIS is a significant step forward, giving the community an opportunity to explore the proposal, understand the potential benefits, impacts and mitigation measures, and make a submission before the $940 million project moves into the next stage.
The proposed bypass runs west of the Milton and Ulladulla town centres, extending 12 kilometres from Little Forest Road in the north, to Canberra Crescent in the south. Access to Ulladulla, Mollymook, Narrawallee and surrounding communities will be maintained via an extension of Bishop Drive.
The design includes supporting infrastructure such as structures that allow fauna to safely move around the proposed bypass, walking and cycling links, and features to support safer and more efficient emergency service operations.
Importantly, the bypass is designed to separate local trips from through-traffic, helping the Princes Highway function more effectively and create safer and better-connected town centres.
For locals, that means fewer cars and trucks travelling through town, less traffic using local streets as congestion shortcuts and more reliable day-to-day journeys.
Holiday peak conditions are expected see the greatest travel time benefits, reducing travel times by 48 minutes northbound and 39 minutes southbound on opening.
By removing significant volumes of through-traffic and heavy vehicles from the Milton and Ulladulla town centres, the bypass will reduce interactions between local traffic, freight, pedestrians and cyclists, helping create safer streets for the community.
Keeping freight and goods moving efficiently is critical for local businesses, tourism and the broader South Coast economy, and the bypass would reduce heavy vehicle traffic passing through the Milton and Ulladulla town centres.
Once open, the bypass is expected to remove 780 heavy vehicles from the existing Princes Highway between the northern and central connections, and 640 heavy vehicles between the southern and central connections.
Community members are encouraged to review the EIS and concept design and make a submission during the public exhibition period, which is open now until Monday 19 October 2026.
Drop-in sessions will be held as follows:
- Tuesday 29 September – Ulladulla Civic Centre, between 11.00am and 7.00pm
- Wednesday 30 September – Milton Memorial Park, between 11.00am and 2.00pm
- Sunday 11 October – Ulladulla Harbour Markets, between 8am and 1.00pm
- Tuesday 13 October – Milton Memorial Park, between 12.00pm and 4.30pm
- Wednesday 14 October – Ulladulla Civic Centre, between 2.00pm and 7.00pm
The EIS is available on the NSW Major Projects Planning Portal website, where submissions can be lodged.
