The protracted closure of Waterfall Way is taking a heavy toll on the Dorrigo community, and there is more pain coming.
The Dorrigo Chamber of Commerce is reporting a 30 to 60 percent decrease in buisness turnover, and the disruption to the daily lives of residents is becoming an emergency.
“It is causing acute pain to the community,” said Chamber President and local butcher Ben Garnock.
“News of an additional six-week wait has only added to more stress. It’s not just having a big impact on businesses, it’s everyone in the community.”
“More and more people are coming forward each day to talk about how it’s affecting them. A lot of those are vulnerable people that need to medical appointments in Coffs Harbour and don’t feel safe travelling via Summervilles Road.”
“There is no community transport currently available, so it’s really becoming an emergency situation for our community.”
“Dorrigo is a resilient town, but to know that we are not halfway through this closure is adding to the helplessness that was already being felt.”
The Dorrigo Business Chamber met with Member for Oxley Michael Kemp and senior Transport NSW officials last week. More than 400 people then turned up for a public meeting to hear from Mr Kemp about plans for Waterfall Way.
Mr Kemp revealed information gleaned from meetings with Minister for Roads, Jenny Aitchison, most of which were released publicly the day after the Dorrigo meeting.
The Minister announced Waterfall Way will reopen within 6 weeks with one lane under alternating traffic conditions at the Gordonsville Cutting landslip site. That will allow Bellingen Shire Council to widen and complete tar sealing of Summervilles Road.
6 months of pain
While not mentioned in the Minister’s announcement, Mr Kemp said Waterfall Way could be closed for around 6 months to complete resilience works.
Mr Garnock said that would be devastating for the Dorrigo community.
“We are grateful that the state government has heard some of our cries and have put money down to come up with a solution.”
“It sounds like they have not made a decision about the Gordonville cutting yet. I know they have been open to a lot of suggestions and have been talking with local earthmovers and engineers.”
“One suggestion is to bypass the Gordonville cutting all together.”
“Transport for NSW did tell us they would do an assessment of an alternate freight route from Dorrigo to Coffs Harbour via the Cascades Way. That is welcome news, but it’s a project that would take years to complete.”
Minister for Roads, Jenny Aitchison, said “nothing is off the table” as the Minns Government considers how to strengthen this regional lifeline and improve reliability during extreme weather events.
“This wasn’t a minor slip; it was a significant geotechnical failure – more than 250 tonnes of material came down and the slope continued moving,” Minister Aitchison said.
“Safety had to come first. We could not reopen this road until expert engineers were satisfied it could operate safely under controlled conditions.
“I appreciate how disruptive this closure has been for families, farmers, freight operators and local businesses. But reopening prematurely would have put motorists and workers at risk – and that was and never will be an option.”
She said Transport for NSW continues to work closely with Bellingen Shire Council, Coffs Harbour City Council, NSW Farmers, freight operators, local producers and schools .
“We’ve worked closely with Bellingen Shire Council on this solution which will restore access in a controlled way while permanent stabilisation works are properly designed and delivered.
“I also want to thank everyone who has worked with us constructively throughout this process – including residents, community and industry groups like NSW Farmers.”
Dead quiet in downtown Bellingen
Finding a parking spot in the normally bustling main street of Bellingen is a notorious challenge.
However, it has become an easy task since the Waterfall Way closure and the only bright spot for locals in a town highly dependent on the tourist trade.
Bellingen Chamber for Commerce President, Frank Perez, said businesses experienced an immediate 30 to 50 per cent downturn in income when Waterfall Way closed.
Mr Perez has called for the Federal Government to step in and fund a long-term solution for Waterfall Way.
“We do thank the Minister and Transport for NSW for listening to us. The Chamber, shire council and Michael Kemp have worked really well together on this,” Mr Perez said.
“The question remains, what is the long-term solution? And where is the Federal Government on this?”
“It’s going to significant capital for a long-term solution and we want the Federal Government to start taking action to address a major thoroughfare.”
“The Federal Minister came to Coffs Harbour last week to look at the bypass and did not make the effort to drive down the road to meet with council and residents.”
“If it does close for six months, we would want to see interim arrangements for one lane access one day a week for freight transport, farmers, businesses and residents.”
The Bellingen Shire Council is conducting a business and community survey to support advocacy for a long‑term solution for Waterfall Way. It closes on 8 March.
“Our community has been asking for a clear timeframe for the road to reopen, and we understand it has been a long four weeks for the people who rely on Waterfall Way in their everyday lives,” Bellingen Shire Council Mayor Steve Allan.
“It is likely to be months before a full solution is implemented. I am very aware of the struggles of residents, businesses, and support organisations who depend on this road to do their jobs and feed their families.
“We want to assure people that we are working to ensure alternate routes including Summervilles Road are fit for purpose, and that people across the region know the Bellingen Shire is open for business and operating as usual.”
Geotechnical update for Gordonville Cutting
More than 250 tonnes of rock and debris have fallen at the site since the initial failure, with a 26-metre-high slope continuing to shift in the days that followed.
After weeks of expert assessment by specialist engineers from Transport for NSW, working alongside local council crews, protective shipping container barriers will be installed to shield motorists from potential rockfalls during the interim one lane opening.
Engineers will continue planning the permanent stabilisation design and risk mitigation work at the Gordonville Cutting site, with options being considered similar to those proposed for Myers Bluff.
A drilling program has commenced to assist geotechnical engineers to better understand the site. Transport for NSW has also worked along other areas of the road closure to inspect and remove areas of weathered rock from sections of the adjacent slopes. The scale of this work could only be done by using a 30 tonne longarm excavator.
“The soil and rock layer samples we obtained from this drilling will now be tested and the results paired with downhole photography to build a detailed understanding of the subsurface geological structure,’ a spokesperson said.
“A monitoring well has also been installed behind the slip zone to allow us to better understand the slope’s groundwater level response to rain events. This information will be critical in determining the most suitable long-term design option for the slope.”
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