Waterfall Way landslip active and unstable

BELLINGEN Shire Council is continuing to work with Transport for NSW and the State Government as the landslip on Waterfall Way near Gordonville Crossing remains active and unstable.

Mayor Steve Allan and General Manager Mark Griffioen have visited the site with NSW Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison and Member for Oxley Michael Kemp, where they received a briefing from geotechnical experts and crews managing the complex recovery effort.

Cr Allan said what they saw confirmed the seriousness of the situation, and that this would not be a simple clean-up job.

“The slope above the road is still moving, with material continuing to fall and large rock faces that remain unstable and could come down without warning,” he said.

“That makes it extremely dangerous for both workers and the public.

“We understand how frustrating this closure is, but safety must come first.”

Specialist engineers and geotechnical experts have been working on the 26-metre-high slope since the initial failure. Hundreds of tonnes of material have already come down, and the site remains highly unstable.

Bellingen Shire Council’s General Manager Mark Griffioen said that because the slip is still active, it is not yet possible to provide firm timeframes for reopening the road.

“We know how hard this is for our community,” he said.

“Families, businesses, freight operators and emergency services all rely on Waterfall Way. But until the slope is stabilised, we are unable to confirm a timeframe on the reopening.

“We ask for the community’s patience while this critical safety work continues.”

Bellingen Council has welcomed the NSW Government’s announcement of a detailed corridor assessment of Waterfall Way and surrounding Mid North Coast roads between Bellingen and Dorrigo to be completed this year.

The review will investigate both short-term improvements and longer-term upgrades to improve resilience and alternative access when Waterfall Way is impacted.

With Waterfall Way closed, the only viable route connecting Dorrigo to Bellingen is Summervilles Road.

Mr Griffioen acknowledges this alternative presents its own challenges.

“It has load limits, narrow sections and can deteriorate quickly in wet weather.

“We understand the concerns of local residents and road users, and we are working hard to manage safety and maintenance while the road is carrying higher-than-usual traffic.”

The NSW Government has confirmed Summervilles Road will form part of the corridor assessment, including what upgrades may be required to make it a safer and more reliable secondary route in the future.