Waterfall Way cut due to flood damage for weeks warns Bellingen Council

A series of major landslides will take weeks to clear.

A landslip has forced the closure of Waterfall Way between Summervilles Road and Horseshoe Road, Thora. Diversions are in place via the Gwydir Highway. A Bellingen Shire Council vehicle was struck by the landslip but no one was injured.

The Waterfall Way between Bellingen and Dorrigo will be cut in several locations for another two weeks at least.

The 185km Waterfall Way links Coffs Harbour and Armidale, passing rainforests, river valleys and waterfalls.

Transport for NSW recently inspected the road where six major landslips occurred during the recent flooding event in the Coffs region.

The slips are spread from Myers Bluff (east of Thora) to Sherrard Falls.

One buried a Bellingen Shire Council car with the occupant lucky to escape unharmed.

The size and number of slips has made it very challenging for crews to access the damage.

Morrows Road at Nana Glen under water on Monday.

It’s anticipated that priority recovery works will focus on clearing Waterfall Way at Sherrard Falls to allow access for emergency and essential services vehicles to move between Dorrigo and Bellingen via alternative managed routes along Summervilles Rd.

Although council and Transport for NSW prioritised a Geotech assessment of the slips, substantial additional rainfall means that further Geotech and environmental assessment is needed, and that this is being expedited.

Subscriber benefits workshop promotion NSW.

In addition, Council staff are this week assessing the alternative route via Summervilles Rd for safe and appropriate access.

The full extent of damage to roads in the Bellingen area is still to be assessed and Council encourages all road users to avoid all unnecessary travel during the rollout of these prioritised road maintenance and repair activities.

Rubbish collection at Dorrigo

Council has been working with waste contractor Handybin to restore services and all missed collections will be carried out on Thursday and Friday now be serviced on Thursday and Friday.