Woolgoolga residents call for road, pothole, water tower maintenance

Woolgoolga residents are outraged at the state of the town’s roads and its most iconic tourist attraction. Here’s why they’re up in arms.

Furious residents are calling for their council to address Woolgoolga’s pothole plague and rejuvenate its iconic water tower.

The road leading up to the scenic whale watching headland is scattered with large potholes and some are now questioning the council’s spending priorities.

Yvonne Pledger said the popular tourist attraction was a “mess”.

“National parks needs to get the whole area sorted. Even the art (on the tower) would look better if the place and roads where tidied up,” Ms Pledger said.

Woolgoolga’s roads are promised to be addressed following a $1.6 million dollar fund to repair and maintain the potholes.

She said the area was quickly becoming a landmark site, but looked “disgusting” in its current state.

“It’s a total disgrace for all the tourists and locals who go there every day,” Ms Pledger said.

Margaret Hannon took to Facebook to vent her frustration.

“The potholes are big enough to damage your tyres. It’s a disgrace and an embarrassment for our council. They should be ashamed,” Ms Hannon wrote.

The Woolgoolga water tank is worse for wear atop the Woolgoolga headland. Picture: Matt Gazy

Painted in 2011, the iconic Woolgoolga water tower sits atop the headland – but weather deterioration means it has become a far cry from what it once was.

Other Facebook users expressed their fury over the lack of action toward the roads.

“We won’t be able to get up there soon with the potholes in the road growing everyday,” one user wrote.

“Come on (Coffs Harbour City Council)! Do something to fix it,” another said.

Many questioned the need for the new bike trail that runs through Beach St, Woolgoolga and worry it’s not being maintained. Picture: Matt Gazy

“Roads are a council responsibility. Good luck with that!,” a third person wrote.

Earlier this year, $500 million dollar funding was announced in NSW to tackle the state’s pothole nightmares.

Some offered free graffiti services to paint over the dilapidated tower, while others are questioning why new bike lines were installed without addressing the roads.

“Council hand out more money for less significant reasons, such as the bike path,” a commenter wrote.

Coffs MP Gurmesh Singh recently announced that Coffs Harbour would receive $1.6m to fix council-owned roads.

Coffs Harbour City Council mayor Paul Amos, Regional Roads Minister Sam Farraway and Coffs Harbour MP Gurmesh Singh at Harbour Drive on July 26, 2022. Picture: Chris Knight

Mr Singh lives in Woolgoolga and said he was fully aware of the state of the roads.

“Driving around the Coffs Coast we’ve all seen just how bad the potholes have become,” Mr Singh said.

Regional Roads Minister Sam Farraway said the injection of funding would allow the council to plan work to restore roads and help protect against recurring problems.

“A number of councils sat down with me and asked for additional help and funding after the initial $50m pothole funding in November,” Mr Farraway said.