Plateau Economy Stalling
As a resident of the Dorrigo Plateau and a customer of BCU,
I am writing to express my deep concern over the cascading impacts of the Waterfall Way closure on our essential banking services.
The current situation has become entirely unsustainable for locals. Because the primary cash-in-transit provider refuses to navigate the local detours, our BCU branch (which is the only bank that has a branch in Dorrigo) is facing a critical shortage of physical currency.
As a customer, it is incredibly frustrating to find the ATM shut down during standard business hours—a desperate, albeit necessary, measure by local staff to preserve what little cash they have for weekend access.
Consequently, the burden has been unfairly shifted onto our local community. When we cannot access cash at our own bank, we are forced to rely on the post office or local grocers for cash-outs. This not only drains the registers of small businesses trying to operate, but it also hits residents with point-of-sale fees.
We are literally paying a daily financial penalty simply because the main road is closed.
Furthermore, we are one sick day away from losing banking access entirely. Due to the severe Work Health and Safety risks associated with the detour, BCU management has understandably determined that they are unable to send relief staff.
This means our local branch staff are carrying an immense burden with no safety net. This is no longer just a logistical inconvenience; it is an economic handbrake.
We urgently need a transparent, actionable timeline from the Minister to reopen Waterfall Way before the plateau’s local economy grinds to a complete halt.
Susan Thomson, Dorrigo
Declare Natural Disaster
As President of the Dorrigo Chamber of Commerce, I recently facilitated a Roundtable meeting with our State Member Michael Kemp, Mayor Steve Allan, Transport for NSW representatives, and local business leaders regarding the Waterfall Way closure.
The impacts our local economy is absorbing are not just disruptive; they are devastating, and they are deepening week on week. The data presented at the meeting is alarming. Our hospitality, accommodation, and retail sectors are experiencing sudden revenue losses of between 20% and 60%.
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.
Beyond the spreadsheets, there is an escalating, unquantifiable human cost. Dorrigo is built on family-run businesses.
Right now, local business owners are working exhausting, unpaid hours to cover tasks they would normally employ others to do, simply trying to save money and keep their doors open.
We appreciate Transport for NSW coming to the table and acknowledging the need for a long-term, resilient solution rather than just replacing “like for like”.
However, our businesses cannot survive on future promises alone. We urgently call for this landslide to be declared a natural disaster so our affected businesses can seek immediate, short-term financial support.
Furthermore, we need safe, short-term access restored to Waterfall Way, coupled with the immediate funding and development of viable, heavy-vehicle-friendly alternate routes.
Our local economy is withering on the vine. We need financial support, actionable timelines, and robust solutions now.
Ben Garnock- President, Dorrigo Chamber of Commerce
Detours Drain Dollars
As the owner of Bellingen Concreting, I am writing to highlight the severe, ongoing impact the Waterfall Way closure at Gordonville is having on local trades and businesses.
While we understand that road emergencies happen, the current detours via Gordonville Road and Summervilles Road are entirely unsuited to handle the volume and weight of displaced Waterfall Way traffic.
The real-world consequences for our local economy are crippling. Recently, my team had a concrete pump and two concrete trucks en route to a job in Dorrigo, only to be completely blocked when a tree services truck jackknifed on the detour.
That single incident resulted in a wasted day, delayed timelines, and considerable expense. In total, we have had four attempted starts to complete just one job on the plateau, with two of those failed attempts directly related to the Waterfall Way closure.
Even when trying to source materials locally, we’ve found the Dorrigo concrete batching plant unable to fulfil our order because the road closures prevented their own cement deliveries from getting through.
Furthermore, the 10-tonne weight restriction now in place has effectively severed our ability to properly service Dorrigo and the wider plateau.
We do a considerable amount of work in this area, and this extended closure is restricting trade, blowing out costs, and hurting our customers.
We urgently need a more robust logistical solution and a transparent plan from the Minister regarding the road’s reopening. Our local businesses simply cannot sustain these chokeholds indefinitely.
Glen Bradshaw- Owner, Bellingen Concreting
Farmers Economic Woes
I am writing to lay out the sheer economic devastation the Waterfall Way closure is inflicting on our plateau’s primary producers. This is not just a logistical inconvenience; it is a multi-million-dollar hit to our region as well as seriously impacting mentally on all our local community.
The detours miss the staggering reality of our local supply chains. Rerouting freight via Grafton is systematically crippling our farmers and transport operators.
Beef: Normally 80 beasts a week to Wingham Export Beef, an industry worth $7 million annually to the plateau. While the road is closed, absolutely no cattle are going down the hill.
• Dairy: Our 14 plateau suppliers produce $16 million worth of milk a year. Rerouting tankers is costing an exorbitant extra $2,000 per day.
Vegetables: Produce shipments are down by $40,000 a week. Transport is so compromised stock is now transported in ute loads.
Fuel & Logistics: Delivering essential fuel from Macksville now costs an extra $8,000 a week. Furthermore, the extended travel times mean heavy vehicle drivers are running out of regulated logbook hours, reducing their working capacity and stranding them overnight.
These are not just numbers on a spreadsheet; they represent the livelihoods of hardworking families who are swallowing these massive costs daily. We urgently need the State Government to declare this landslide a natural disaster to unlock immediate financial relief. We need an immediate, heavy-vehicle-friendly alternate route before our agricultural sector is irreparably damaged.
Bruce Schwartz, Dorrigo
Waterfall Way Crisis
Dorrigo is a tourist town with over 140,000 people each year visiting the World Heritage Gondwana
National Park Dorrigo. The Waterfall Way is the National Park’s artery.
Closure of Waterfall Way is like a person suffering a heart attack.
The closure of Waterfall Way has had significant negative impact on the Heritage Hotel Motel business.
There have been many accommodation cancellations which will also result in reduced bistro and drinks sales. There is also reduce lunch time bistro and drink sales to day trippers.
The closure of Waterfall Way has occurred regularly over recent years.
Each closure resulting in lost business at the Heritage Hotel.
Repairs to the Waterfall Way should not only be about restoring the current road it must be about upgrading the road to provide for the projected 200,000 tourists coming to the World Heritage National Park after the park is redeveloped.
Part up of upgrading should include the alternate route to Dorrigo via Cascade.
Peter Feros
Partner Heritage Hotel Motel Dorrigo
Who are We?
Greetings or acknowledgement’s are important.
It could be a nod of the head as Aboriginal Peoples have been doing forever or Warami, All-a, Giinagay, Gidday, Shalom, Salaam, Ni hao, Ahlan, Heigh, Moi, Marhaba, Kon nichiwa, Namaste, Hello.
These greetings are spoken every day in Australia, [by] Australian’s!
Martin Luther King said, “Hate cannot drive out hate only love can do that”.
It’s important to respect all cultures, inclusion brings people together, where we can listen and hear, which builds on our understanding, acceptance and respect and through dialogue we can gain further knowledge and it goes on.
Colin Hutton Thora
New Route Needed
The current Waterfall Way is in the wrong place. The topography means it will always be dumping landslides in heavy rain. Northbank and Glennifer Roads must be upgraded with an elevated road in the flood areas and valleys. It must loop around North Bellingen. It should meet the Pacific Highway, at the same elevated level, above where the current N.Bank Rd. joins the old highway. This is an economic, social and military no-brainer. Prepare for compulsory land acquisition.
Lloyd Wright. Bellingen.
Time is of the Essence
The closure of Waterfall Way now over 5 weeks. One could not overstate the impact this is having on local businesses and local residents. This road supposedly involves 10,000 traffic movement daily. The alternate route via Summervills road Gordonville Road and Buffer Creek Road to the Gleniffer hall only for vehicles under ten tonne has been a slow and very dangerous alternative already involving a number of accidents. The inability of heavy transport now from Bellingen to Dorrigo is having an enormous impact, milk tankers, cattle trucks, gravel trucks and a whole range of other heavy vehicles. Waterfall Way now a major route from the coast to the tablelands. Maybe for the first time ever, feeling some compassion for our local council, copping the flak from those that are unaware that this road is the sole responsibility for Transport N.S.W. Following two prearranged meetings in Dorrigo and Bellingen, attended by our local state member and other senior figures including our local mayor and general manager for an update. Over 300 attended Dorrigo but most were shocked that only 32 at Bellingen, maybe not impacted as much as Dorrigo, but maybe an example to compare two very different communities these days. The latest update, hopefully, Gordonville could be opened for one lane within 4 to 6 weeks while a significant upgrade funded by Transport N.S.W. and approved by our state minister for transport takes place on Summervills Road. When completed back to a total closure until the job is completed at Gordonville, estimated to take at least six months. Even with this upgrade no way is this route going to allow for heavy transport which is the major obstacle to this huge debacle.
My hope is that sanity prevails, and the single lane option remains, allowing for work to continue for the complete fix. Time is of the essence as we wait for a solution.
Darcy Browning
Long term solution needed
After attending the meeting at the Dorrigo Community Centre on the 16 th February, many questions were discussed and answered. My main issue now is the fact that one lane will be opened at Gordonville in about 6 weeks while work can be carried out upgrading Summerville’s Rd, yes, that is great, we can deal with that. However, now we are told that the main road will then be shut for 6 months while the works are carried out, but Summerville’s Road will be in much better condition to use. I gather the bridges won’t be getting replaced or strengthened in that amount of time, so we still won’t be able to take our truck (it is only a tabletop, not a semi-trailer). That means for at least 6 months we will have to take either the Eastern Dorrigo or South Grafton routes. The works at the bottom of the mountain took 3 years to complete – I am wondering how Gordonville Cutting will be done in 6 months? Our business cannot and will not sustain the added costs.
We also do onsite service in the area between Woolgoolga and Kempsey. Already we have people complaining about the extra charge to get our service personnel to their farms. Our productivity is down and the wear and tear on our vehicles is adding up.
Now, I know that we are only “small business country bumpkins” to the powers that be in Sydney, but as a small business we have been contributing via our taxes, GST, road tax, personal tax, fuel tax, company tax, provisional tax, land tax, you name it we have been taxed and we must pay on time or we pay a penalty.
There are other alternatives to shutting Thora and the Plateau off for 6 months (minimum).
Please think of the businesses and the locals that are crying out for help and a LONG-TERM solution. If all the money that is going to be spent on the cutting could be put into a different route, (I have in my possession an old hand drawn map of the road before the cutting was built), open one lane at Gordonville until an alternative route is designed and built – the infrastructure may already be there, that may be an answer. I shake my head when I see the people manning the detours and traffic lights and what that cost must be – let alone all the other people running around in a vehicle each. I am sure they are all doing something important, but being a small businessperson, I know and am very aware of the added unnecessary expense. The only way a small business can operate in this day and age, is to keep strict control of unnecessary waste.
Jo Beaumont, Stan Cork Machinery Pty Ltd, Dorrigo
Residents Demand Action
A meeting organised by a group of North Bellingen Residents for Sunday1st March at 12md at the Luncheon Pavilion, Bellingen Showground will discuss Improvements to the Hammond Street footpath and the Replacement of Lavenders Bridge.
At the Council Meeting on the 18th February Councillor Shephard from Dorrigo outlined the heartbreaking difficulties faced by residents who must drive the long way to get to Coffs Harbour Hospital for vital treatments like Dialysis and Cancer Treatments.
Clearly, the difficulties faced by residents and businesses from Thora and Dorrigo are so much more complex and demanding on a daily basis for these affected residents. There are, however, serious safety issues and long-term consequences for those people from North Bellingen who live along the Detour Route.
Since the closure of Waterfall Way the traffic in Hammond and Wheatley Street has doubled and the workability of any long-term repairs to Waterfall Way must include a safer detour route.
This is also mentioned in Item 6 of the Mayoral Minute presented at the meeting on the 18th December and again under the heading of Alternative Route.
We urge the State and Federal Government to take action as soon as possible to work with and support Bellingen Council to improve traffic conditions for the alternative route so that longterm repairs to Waterfall Way can happen as soon and as safely as possible.
Caroline Joseph