$30 million committed to Bellingen road upgrades

The NSW government has announced a $30 million investment into Summervilles and Gordonville roads, with road widening, resurfacing, drainage upgrades, roadside barriers and clearer line markings all on the agenda.

The funds come months after both Summervilles and Gordonville roads became detour routes for commuters who would usually use Waterfall Way to travel between Bellingen and Dorrigo.

Waterfall Way was reopened in late March, though the rebuild continues.

Catch up: A 250-tonne landslip closed Waterfall Way in January between Horseshoe Road and Boggy Creek Road. The incident was the fourth time the major stretch of road had been closed in the previous 12 months.

• Severe rainfall and flooding has caused ongoing issues across the Mid North Coast’s roads.

Look into it: Following the latest incident, the NSW government began a detailed assessment of Waterfall Way and surrounding roads looking at short term fixes and long-term upgrades. This funding is part of the result of that assessment.

• Since 2021, works on Waterfall Way have cost the state government $100 million. More than $50 million of that has been spent on the stretch of road between Bellingen and Dorrigo.

Businesses suffer: In March, Bellingen business owners told the Mid North Coaster the landslip had greatly impacted the flow of foot traffic to the town.

• Alex Caminer, co-owner of Alternatives Bookshop on Bellingen’s High Street, said businesses had been “just basically trying to stay open” as confusion continued around how accessible the town was by car.

• “It’s a major arterial road”, he said. “… 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.”

Money for the pain: The federal government had initially committed $3.8 million towards the construction of two timber bridges on Summervilles Road.

What they said: Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison said the $30 million commitment would strengthen the roads, improve safety and ensure the detour strips can more readily handle increased traffic.

“This is about responding to more than one event”, she said. “And instead ensuring the region is better prepared for future weather impacts and unexpected closures”.

Steve Allen, the Mayor of Bellingen Shire, said the funding was “vital” while long-term solutions for the corridor continue to be pursued.