Just 48 hours after the Nambucca and Urunga was opened, local highway patrol clocked the green p-plater travelling at 149km/h in the 100km/h speed zone near the Ballards Rd interchange.

When police caught up to the driver, he had increased his speed to 165km/h. Police said that when the male was stopped, he had his partner and two children in the car.

He was fined over $3000 and lost his licence for six months.  

“These fines pale into insignificance when you consider the potential injury and death that could have occurred had the vehicle travelling at such a speed been in an accident,” a police spokesperson said.

“The new road has been built to save travel time and more importantly save lives and it is disturbing to see such speeds being detected within 48 hours of the road being opened.

“Traffic and Highway patrol will continue to patrol this road, as well as the old road … we will be out in force to make sure it’s safe.”