Potholes and broken cars after damage to Coffs roads

The streets of Coffs Harbour are littered with canyons and they’re anything but grand as the patchwork of potholes is proving a pain in the hip pocket for drivers.

The crew from Bob Jane T-Marts Coffs Harbour have been flat out helping motorists who’ve suffered wheel and tyre damage from potholes. Pictured are Reeve Holmes, Jesse Dunn, Neihana Milne and Nick French.

Beautiful one moment, road to ruin the next - that’s the legacy for Coffs Harbour’s streets after the torrential storms and localised flooding.

Potholes are here, there and everywhere - and some of them are doozies.

Motorists have been taking to social media to rage; council crews have been burning the midnight oil to patch the holes, and local tyre shops have been run off their rims.

Bob Jane T-Marts Coffs Harbour manager Jesse Dunn said the store had been so busy they’ve put on an additional worker to help with the load.

“It’s been out of control,” Mr Dunn said.

“We’ve had tilt trays after tilt trays coming in with cars that can’t be driven with smashed wheels, or where they don’t have spares (tyres).”

The damage to the road network is widespread and certainly not limited to Coffs, as Bellingen and Nambucca pavements also copped a pounding.

Mr Dunn said the Pacific Highway was probably the “worst”, including near the Clog Barn tourist attraction.

And he had nothing but praise for Coffs Harbour City Council crews who have been doing their darndest to put things right.

Mr Dunn said the damage was mostly cracked or bent wheels, and pinched tyres.

“My boys are pretty good and they’ve been doing their best (to meet demand), plus the customers have been lovely and accommodating in understanding,” he said.

A council spokesperson said the damage to the road network was “yet to be calculated in full”.

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Outdoor crews have been working daily from 4.30am to 9pm tackling the potholes, which are being triaged.

“Our approach is to focus on patching the busiest and highest-speed 100km and 80km roads first, and then move onto the quieter, lower speed roads,” the spokesperson said.

Council said damage to the roads had been “across the board”, and that people can report a pothole via the online customer request form or by calling 6648-4000.

“Please bear with us as we work to fix the damage and please drive to the conditions,” the spokesperson said.