Landslips, diversions and promises galore: Will Waterfall Way ever be fit for purpose?

The notorious stretch of Waterfall Way connecting Bellingen and Dorrigo has again become a political football after a fourth closure in the past 12 months due to a landslip caused by heavy rainfall.

Impacted residents and politicians on all sides know all too well there’s no quick fix to a landslip – nor is there a cheap option.

But with more extreme weather conditions predicted as global temperatures rise, the government is under pressure to commit to and improve alternative routes.

What happened: Earlier this month a landslip near Gordonville Crossing, triggered by severe local rainfall, closed Waterfall Way in both directions between Horseshoe Road and Boggy Creek Road.

About 50 tonnes of rock and dirt fell onto the road on January 19. Specialist engineers and geotechnical experts, along with Bellingen Shire Council staff, attended the site. As they were working to clear the debris, a further 150 tonnes came down.

The 26-metre-high slope has continued to move with active landslips and Waterfall Way remains closed, with no date for when it will reopen. 

What is being done: On Thursday, the NSW Government announced it will undertake a detailed corridor assessment of Waterfall Way, Summervilles Road and other roads between Bellingen and Dorrigo, to investigate short term fixes and potential, long-term upgrades to access, including alternate routes during extreme weather.

The assessment, led by Transport for NSW, is expected to be complete in the second half of this year.

Extreme weather expected to get worse 

Climate scientist David Karoly told the Mid North Coaster in 2025 that the rise in ocean and atmospheric temperatures meant more moisture in the atmosphere, which led to an increase in extreme rainfall.

And extreme rainfall means more landslips.

Minister for Recovery and the North Coast, Janelle Saffin, said the upcoming assessment is “a critical step in our commitment to building back better and ensuring our regional roads can withstand the increasing frequency of extreme weather events”.

Millions spent: Since 2021, works on Waterfall Way have cost the state government $100 million, including more than $50 million on the stretch between Bellingen and Dorrigo.

• “We have invested heavily in Waterfall Way and will continue to do so, but we also need a viable alternative for the times this road is impacted by severe weather,” Minister for Roads, Jenny Aitchison said in a statement.

“This should not be a political issue, but the reality is this region has been represented by the Liberals and Nationals for decades and the upgrades Waterfall Way needed were not delivered.”

The Liberals and Nationals held government in NSW from 2011 to 2023. 

Nationals MP for Oxley Michael Kemp said the frequency of closures on Waterfall Way was “unacceptable”.

• “We need real resilience built into this road, urgent upgrades to Summervilles Road as the key alternative route during closures, and we need funding committed to a case study on a long term alternative corridor,” Kemp said in a social media post.

In the meantime, mini-buses will run along the Summervilles Road to ensure students can return safely to school next week.

Thumbnail: Heavy rainfall triggered another major landslip on Waterfall Way in January. Picture supplied: NSW Government