Transport for NSW has announced alternative travel arrangements for students impacted by the closure of Waterfall Way due to a landslip, with a phased introduction of minibus services beginning Monday, 9 February.
Five school bus services in the Dorrigo, Thora and Bellingen area are currently cancelled because the designated diversion route, Summervilles Road, is not suitable for standard school buses without additional safety controls.
Transport for NSW has worked with local operators to secure minibuses which will traverse Summervilles Road, supported by safety measures including a pilot vehicle to accompany convoys. Due to the difficulty of sourcing enough minibuses, not every student will be able to access the alternative arrangements immediately.
From Monday, 9 February, a revised timetable will be in place allowing students travelling from the Dorrigo/Thora area to Bellingen to catch a revised minibus service. Bellingen-based students in Years 7 to 10 attending Chrysalis Steiner School in Thora, as well as all students from Orama School travelling from Bellingen to Thora, will also be able to catch the service.
Transport for NSW stated it is continuing to work with Chrysalis Steiner School and bus operators to source the residual minibuses and drivers required to return the remaining 130 Chrysalis Steiner students to classrooms. A date for this return cannot be confirmed at this time.
Families have been advised to stay abreast of communication via their school, with an SMS messaging service established to communicate service changes due to inclement weather or road conditions. The arrangements are planned to remain in place for the duration of the Waterfall Way closure. Transport is unable to provide a date for the road’s reopening at this stage.
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