A 50-tonne landslip on Waterfall Way west of Bellingen has turned into a 200-tonne dilemma for Bellingen Shire residents, commuters, Council and the State Government.
A reopening date for the crucial coastal route remains uncertain as another 150 tonnes has come down onto the road since the initial landslip on 20 January.
Minister for Roads, Jenny Aitchison, has pledged to undertake a detailed corridor assessment of Waterfall Way and Mid-North Coast roads between Bellingen and Dorrigo.
This will include investigating short-term fixes but also potential, long-term upgrades to support access and alternate routes during extreme weather.
Minister Aitchison inspected the site yesterday as specialist crews continue complex work to stabilise the slope. The Minister was joined by Minister for Recovery and the North Coast, Janelle Saffin, Member for Oxley Michael Kemp and Bellingen Shire Mayor Steve Allan.
After the initial landslip occurred, Transport for NSW deployed specialist engineers and geotechnical experts to the site to work with Bellingen Shire Council. Since then, the slope has continued to move.
Despite crews working around the clock for more than a week, the 26-metre-high slope remains unstable, making it unsafe to reopen the road.
“The community is understandably frustrated, we know closures on Waterfall Way are more than an inconvenience – they disrupt families, businesses, freight and tourism,” Minister Aitchison said.
“We have heard the community clearly. That’s why we are expanding our focus beyond a single road and looking at the whole network around Bellingen, as well as immediate fixes to support locals when kids return to school.”
“We have invested heavily in Waterfall Way and will continue to do so, but we also need a viable alternative for the times this road is impacted by severe weather.”
“This assessment is about moving beyond short-term fixes and properly understanding what this corridor needs.”
“Nothing is off the table – but safety is critical, and we will not reopen the road until it is safe for workers and road users.”
The corridor assessment will be led by Transport for NSW and informed by a comprehensive geotechnical engineering review.
In the meantime, Transport for NSW will work closely with Bellingen Shire Council to improve Summervilles Road as a more viable and robust secondary route.
Transport NSW is also working bus operators and local schools to ensure students can safely return to school in the coming days.
Bellingen Shire Mayor Steve Allan said upgrades to Summervilles road is an immediate priority.
“I am very aware of the community’s frustration with Summerville Road. On Friday, I drove sections of it myself to better understand the conditions. It’s not in condition for everyday use and I’m pushing for upgrades to this alternative route,” Mayor Allan said.
“I ask the community for ongoing patience while the road remains closed. I know the disruption causes real challenges for residents, businesses, and commuters, and we are working around the clock to restore safe access.”
“I do welcome the announcement from Ministers Aitchison and Saffin. It is encouraging to see Government responding to Council and community concerns, including a long-term corridor assessment of Waterfall Way, Summervilles Road, and the Cascade Corridor, and plans to strengthen the resilience of this vital road network.”
“As Mayor, I’ve strongly advocated for this approach to remove the single-point-of-failure risk. Our goal is a safe, reliable, long-term solution that keeps our communities connected.”
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