Bellingen business owners want you to know the town is open

Bellingen business owners say a landslip, a closed road and some confusing signs have led to local businesses struggling through an already quiet period, as tourists and others on the Mid North Coast give the township the miss. 

What happened: In January, a 250-tonne landslip closed Waterfall Way / B78 between Horseshoe Road and Boggy Creek Road – about 18-kilometres west of the highway exit and about six kilometres west of Bellingen’s township.

• The signs read: “Waterfall Way Closed”.

• Waterfall Way/B78 is the highway exit taken to get to Bellingen

While the major landslip and road closure continues to disrupt inland residents and the industries that rely heavily on the arterial route, it has not impacted access to Bellingen’s CBD.

Despite this, the misleading messaging has seen local businesses experience a noticeable drop in visitation. 

Business suffers: Alex Caminer, co-owner of Alternatives Bookshop on Bellingen’s Hyde Street, is also on the board of the local Chamber of Commerce. 

He said Bellingen businesses have felt the effects of January’s landslip, especially as the summer peak season comes to an end.

Quiet months: Caminer said locals “trade off the tourist business” and while this time of year typically slows down for retail, hospitality and tourism, the billboards haven’t helped.

• “In February and March, everyone's getting back in rhythm and a little hungover from a big Christmas expenditure,” Caminer told the Mid North Coaster.

“The billboards on the highway initially said something like ‘Waterfall Way closed’ and it was a bit ambiguous where [the closure] was.”

Caminer said the miscommunication has “doubled the pressure” on businesses to stay afloat coming into the cooler months.

• “Some of [the businesses on the street] are just basically trying to stay open to get through this period rather than actually make any money. Just trying to keep the business alive,” Caminer said.

Concern to outlast: Expecting the road won’t be completely reopened for another few months, Caminer is concerned for his fellow business owners.

• “I wouldn't be surprised if we see, by the end of this period… that we'll see a few businesses turn over in town, which will be really sad,” Caminer said.

While the bookshop is “doing fine”, Caminer acknowledges other businesses are struggling. He wants to see the stretch of road – notorious for landslips – upgraded to better withstand future extreme weather events.

• “We get a landslip every now and then. It was just waiting for one that was big enough, that was actually going to put the road out of action for a significant time,” Caminer said.

• The landslip in January was the fourth closure of Waterfall Way in the past 12 months due to a landslip caused by heavy rainfall.

Repair, when? On February 18, the NSW Government committed to restoring controlled one-lane access to Waterfall Way within six weeks, following an engineering assessment of the landslip.

• Alongside interim traffic arrangement, the government said engineers would continue planning for a permanent solution involving stabilisation design and risk mitigation work at the site.

• Currently, Waterfall Way remains closed between Thora and Boggy Creek. Those travelling to Dorrigo can follow detour signage.

In the meantime, the government has announced support for residents, businesses, primary producers and councils to help with recovery – including low-interest loans of up to $130,000 for small businesses and primary producers.

An important link: As a resident and business owner, Caminer wants to see Waterfall Way acknowledged as an important arterial road with funds at the ready in a disaster event.

• “It's very hard to ask for funds for preventative measures… but once [a landslip has] happened, it's almost too late and the cleanup is always more expensive than any preventative medicines or activities there,” Caminer said.

• “It’s a major arterial road. The whole New England plateau – cows, logs, lorries – everything has to come down that Dorrigo mountain off the plateau to get to the coast. It’s been very difficult for businesses up there.”

• “You can still get up to Dorrigo and beyond, but it adds a good 20 minutes or turns a 25-minute journey up the mountain into 45 minutes.”

In the meantime, Carminer is encouraging visitors to the area.

• “It’s a nice time of year. It's a beautiful time of year. As the weather's just starting to cool off, but it's still warm, the swimming holes are more open.”