By Michael Burt
Business has been far from peachy at Peaches Patisserie in Dorrigo since Waterfall Way closed on 19 January.
Tourist and return customers numbers are down more than 40 per cent and costs are skyrocketing, but despite being “stressed and exhausted” owner Beth O’Loughlin will be selling her famous pastries today.
“That’s a massive decrease in customer numbers for any small business. Every business in Dorrigo is feeling it, and there are flow on effects to everyone in the community,” Beth said.
Many of those businesses wrote to the Bellingen Shire News this week to express the real and cascading impact of the latest Waterfall Way closure (see Letters to the Editor on pages 6-7).
“It’s a dire situation, but the Dorrigo community is so good. I wouldn’t be opening the doors if it wasn’t for them.”
“We do have a great supportive community, and they are really good at looking after us.”
The Dorrigo Chamber of Commerce says the hospitality, accommodation, and retail sectors are experiencing revenue losses of between 20% and 60%. Visitor numbers to the popular Dorrigo Rainforest Centre are down by more than 30% and the Dorrigo BCU branch is facing a critical cash shortage.
“Furthermore, the logistical nightmare of rerouting freight means our agricultural producers, sawmills, and transport operators are facing staggering freight cost increases of up to 100% just to get their goods to market or supplies up the mountain,” said Chamber president Ben Garnock.
The Chamber met with senior Transport NSW officials and Member for Oxley Michael Kemp last week. More than 400 people then turned up for a public meeting to hear from Mr Kemp about plans for Waterfall Way.
“Transport for NSW agreed to put some money down to do some serious works. There is some relief that we are being heard by the State Government,” Mr Garnock said.
Minister for Roads, Jenny Aitchison, announced her plans for Waterfall Way the day after the Dorrigo meeting. That plan involves reopening Waterfall Way within 6 weeks with one lane under alternating traffic conditions at the landslip site. This will allow Bellingen Shire Council to widen and complete tar sealing of Summervilles Road before Waterfall Way will be closed again for up to six months for extensive works along the Gordonville Cutting section.
Member for Oxley, Michael Kemp, welcomed the announcement and complimented the Minister on a willingness to implement a more permanent solution to the repeated land slips at Gordonville Cutting.
“My number one goal is to fix the road once and for all. I asked the Minister to do this, and she has committed to that,” Mr Kemp said.
“I’m actually a supporter of closing it for six months if it means fixing it properly this time.”
“The Minister has also committed to fixing Summervilles Road, which includes widening and lifting the load limit to over 10 tonnes.”
How the Gordonville Cutting section will be fixed ‘properly’ is still uncertain. There is talk of extensive battering and benching works along the current route or a bypass via Boggy Creek Road.
Mr Kemp has arranged for Mayor Steve Allan and the Bellingen Chamber of Commerce to meet with the Minister in Parliament this week.