Forty residents attended the North Bellingen Community Gathering at the Showground Luncheon Pavilion at midday on Sunday 1st March. The meeting unanimously called for a speed camera and changes to the speed limit in Hammond and Wheatley Streets and improved policing of dangerous driving particularly at weekends.
There was a focus on life threatening conditions caused by increasingly bad driving behaviour at the weekends. Since the closure of the Waterfall Way the traffic on Hammond and Wheatley Street is constant, unregulated and dangerous.
The residents of Hammond are no longer able to cross the road and because of the density and speed of traffic Wheatley Street residents expressed fear about backing out of their driveways or walking to town Wheatley Street is poorly lit and there is no footpath on either side of the Street with all residents are forced to brave the traffic and walk on the road.
Residents from Black Street were well represented and will continue to negotiate about their plan approved by Bellingen Shire Council (BSC) with the Board of Directors. Bellingen Showground and BSC. Residents reported regular disturbance from large caravans turning at the end of Black Street.
The report about the design and replacement of Lavenders Bridge will be available to the Public in the last quarter of 2026 and it is important that we keep an eye out for the publication of the new Pedestrian and Mobility Plan which will be ready for public comment in July.
Residents from Hammond Street met with Council Staff 260425 about the dire need to upgrade the stretch of footpath between NorthSide Auto and Lavenders Bridge because anyone going to or from North Bellingen must cross the road twice to access a sealed footpath. This area of footpath is described as the most dangerous and trafficked area of footpath in the Shire and serves every pedestrian and the thousands of visitors who stay at Bellingen Showground each year.
Residents were appreciative to hear at a briefing we had with Council Staff prior to the Gathering that BSC put in an application for funding to upgrade this vital section of footpath connecting both sides of Bellingen.
A motion to upgrade the Hammond Street footpath as a matter of urgency was unanimously supported and this request is to be sent to all appropriate authorities to take both short and long term, immediate action to make Hammond Street safer for all residents going to or from North Bellingen.
Taking a moment to lodge complaints to Police about incidents 131444 will emphasise the need for further enforcement, This was reiterated by the police at a meeting with Council on Monday the 2nd March where the deep concerns from North Bellingen Community about safety were reiterated by Frank Perez the President of the Bellingen Chamber of Commerce who was a participant in the North Bellingen Gathering. The police responded that there can be, “No changes to the speed limit or speed cameras without our help with supplying video or photo evidence”
On the 18th February at the last Council meeting Mayor Steve Allen included in the Mayoral Minute (Item 6) that Hammond and Wheatley Street were now impacted by the increase in traffic as part of the detour for the Waterfall Way. What a relief the kids can get to school however there are eight extra Minibuses as well as normal bus services getting in and out of Hammond Street at Peak times adding to the confusion of before and after school peak hour traffic.”
Residents from East Wheatley Street asked for some acknowledgement of the dangerous traffic increases caused by the Taylor’s Rise development.
The meeting decided to continue working under the Banner of North Bellingen Residents Action Group (NAG) and is aiming for a Strategic Plan to look at the Unique, ongoing and Urgent Needs of the North Bellingen Community. Action plans are in full swing.
North Bellingen Action Group (NAG)