The research - a profile of the construction workforce between Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour and an accommodation study between Coffs Harbour and Ballina - was undertaken to assist planning for the 155 kilometre Woolgoolga to Ballina upgrade.

Mr Gay said the results were a major win for the North Coast economy, with significant long term benefits flowing to communities and local businesses.

“Today, 3500 people are working directly on the Pacific Highway upgrade – of these 35 per cent are local residents,’ Mr Gay said.

“It is also clear other workers are enjoying the North Coast lifestyle, with 30 per cent wanting to be locals as they are considering permanently relocating to their current work location.

“This makes sense when you consider more than half of survey respondents have been working on various sections of the Pacific Highway upgrade for as many as seven or eight years.

“It means the upgrade is providing a continued source of employment for these workers who are moving from one job along the upgrade to the next.

“Importantly, it also means we now have a long-term, skilled workforce based on the North Coast providing valuable transferrable skills to build other sections of the upgrade.

“Other significant study results show about 65 per cent of workers rent their accommodation off local businesses and home owners – boosting the local economy.

“North Coast communities are also set to benefit from the 43 per cent of workers who relocated as a family unit with their partners.”

To access this research, visit www.rms.nsw.gov.au/pacific.