Waterfall Way

Transport for NSW consulted the community on proposed flood resilience projects to improve connectivity between Bellingen and the Pacific Highway.

We thank the community for providing feedback on the concept designs for the Waterfall Way Flood Resilience Projects.

All feedback received has been summarised and Transport has provided responses in a consultation report (PDF, 1.18 MB).
 

The Waterfall Way is located in northern NSW and extends 170 kilometres from the Pacific Highway at Raleigh to the New England Highway at Armidale.

The Waterfall Way is an important transport corridor, particularly for the timber and agricultural industries.

Waterfall Way connects rural communities to the urban centres of Coffs Harbour and Armidale and is also a tourist route passing waterfalls on the Dorrigo Mountain and provides access to the Dorrigo National Park.

The NSW Government is investing $50 million in safety and efficiency improvements on Waterfall Way. As a part of this program of works, flood resilience projects are proposed to improve connectivity between Bellingen and the Pacific Highway. This work is spread over three locations on Waterfall Way: 

• Mill Street, Bellingen
• Burdett Park Creek, Fernmount
• Short Cut Road (Camerons Corner), Raleigh 

Transport for NSW plan to carry out the work, which includes increasing drainage capacity and pavement height, shoulder widening and the installation of safety barriers.

We invited community feedback on this project between October and November 2024. We have summarised all feedback received and provided responses in a consultation report (PDF, 1.18 MB).

Transport for NSW in collaboration with Transport for NSW developed the Waterfall Way Draft Corridor Strategy. This draft sets out the proposed strategic vision to manage and guide development of the Waterfall Way road corridor to improve safety, traffic efficiency and sustainability. There is no commitment to, or funding for, proposed actions identified in this draft.

More information about the Waterfall Way draft corridor strategy is available from the Draft corridor strategies - Northern webpage.

Transport for NSW carried out a safety review of the Waterfall Way (PDF, 3.24Mb) in 2014. The report is a summary of investigations completed as part of a thorough road safety and road user behaviour analysis of Waterfall Way. The recommendations look at short and medium-long term strategies to address the different needs of the community and transport industry.

The review focused on the 40 kilometre stretch of road from Tyringham Street, Dorrigo to the junction of the Pacific Highway and looks at ways of improving road safety along the route. It does not examine bypassing the Bellingen township.

• March 2025 project notification (PDF, 512.05 KB) - Drainage and pavement work in Bellingen
• November 2024 project notification (PDF, 520.55 KB) - Slope remediation at Thora on Waterfall Way

• July 2025 community update (PDF, 217.07 KB)- Waterfall Way Flood Resilience Projects Consultation Summary
• October 2024 community update (PDF, 740.79 KB) - Waterfall Way Flood Resilience Have Your Say Notification
• July 2024 community update (PDF, 2.23 MB) - New and on-going improvements on Waterfall Way
• March 2024 community update (PDF, 309.01 KB) - Maintenance work on Waterfall Way, 1.7km west of Bellingen from 25 March 2024
• July 2023 community update (PDF, 10.65 MB) - Temporary traffic changes on Waterfall Way from July to December 2023
• May 2023 community update (PDF, 215.08 KB) - Variable message sign installation on Waterfall Way from Monday 29 May 2023.
• October 2022 community update - Work starts on Waterfall Way, 60 kilometres east of Armidale, from 5 October.
• August 2022 community update - Temporary traffic changes on Waterfall Way from August to the end December 2022.
• August 2021 community update - Waterfall Way improvement program.
• March 2020 community update - Waterfall Way improvement program.
• August 2016 community update - Community update on projects along Waterfall Way.
• December 2015 community update - Community update on projects and haulage along Waterfall Way.
• September 2015 community update
• June 2015 community update
• May 2015 community update - Project haulage on Waterfall Way.
• March 2015 community update
• December 2014 community update
• September 2014 community update - Work underway along Waterfall Way.
• March 2014 community update - Waterfall Way safety review and program update.
• December 2013 community update - Waterfall Way works program update.
• April 2013 community update - Pacific Highway to Connells Creek.
• March 2012 community update - Waterfall Way works program update.

• 19 March 2022 - Waterfall Way reopens after massive landslip.
• 27 August 2021 - Community feedback sought on Waterfall Way.
• August 2021 - Safety improvements ahead for Dorrigo Mountain.
• June 2021 - Road safety in focus for Waterfall Way.
• June 2021 - Another $6.5 million upgrade for Waterfall Way about to start.
• May 2021 - Safety improvements ahead for Dorrigo Mountain.
• May 2021 - Work powers on to restore Waterfall Way.
• April 2021 - Crews work to re-open Waterfall Way.
• October 2020 - Major Waterfall Way stability work complete east of Dorrigo.
• December 2019 - Waterfall Way works.

• December 2023 letter to householder (PDF, 328.99 KB) - Waterfall shutdown notification
• 20 November 2023 letter to householder (PDF, 282.01 KB) - Armidale heavy patching
• 28 August 2023 letter to householder (PDF, 378.02 KB) - Start of work notification
• 29 May 2023 letter to householder (PDF, 209.34 KB) - Variable message sign installation
• April 2023 letter to householder (PDF, 263.05 KB) - Asphalt work notification
• 24 January 2023 letter to householder (PDF, 113.19 KB) - Safety barrier upgrade west of Deer Vale Road, Fernbrook
• April 2021 letter to householder - Safety improvement work west of Bellingen.
• September 2020 letter to householder - Field investigations west of Bellingen.
• June 2015 letter to householder - Closure information.
• December 2011 letter to householder - Waterfall Way - Pacific Highway to Connells Creek.

• September 2014 community information session presentation - Presentation on the results of the Waterfall Way Road Safety Review.
• September 2014 notes from the community information session at Bellingen - Notes from the community information session at Bellingen.
• September 2014 notes from the community information session at Dorrigo - Notes from the community information session at Dorrigo.
• June 2014 community information session presentation - Feedback summary and traffic data presentation at the community information session held at Bellingen and Dorrigo.
• June 2014 community information session presentation - Safe systems presentation at the community information session held at Bellingen and Dorrigo.
• June 2014 community information session presentation - Crash data analysis presentation at the community information session held at Bellingen and Dorrigo.

• Value Management Workshop Community Participant Nomination Form
• May 2011 route options display - The two route options are now on public display seeking further feedback and discussions with key stakeholders before making a final decision.
• May 2011 feedback form
• August 2010 workshop notes
• August 2010 community workshop presentation
• August 2010 project area
• November 2008 plan of works

• May 2015 updated action plan - Nambucca Heads to Urunga Pacific Highway upgrade updated Action Plan.
• September 2014 action plan - Nambucca Heads to Urunga Pacific Highway upgrade.

• February 2009 Review of Environmental Factors
• December 2008 Review of Environmental Factors main report
• December 2008 review of environmental factors appendices A - H

• April 2013 route options development report
• Appendix A - Option A - Concept.
• Appendix A - Option B - Concept.
• Appendix B - Preliminary Environmental Investigation.
• Appendix C - Preliminary Ecological Assessment Part A – Flora And Fauna Investigations.
• Appendix D - Preliminary Noise and Vibration Assessment.
• Appendix E - Preliminary Landscape Character and Visual Impact Assessment.
• Appendix F - Preliminary Acid Sulfate Soil Management Plan.
• Appendix G - Sediment Basin Design.

• July 2025 submissions report (PDF, 1.18 MB)- Submissions report, Waterfall Way Flood Resilience Projects
• October 2012 public submissions report - Submissions report, Waterfall Way, Pacific Highway to Connells Creek.
• August 2009 submissions report

• October 2015 Agenda and recommendation report
• July 2015 Bellingen Main Street Plan
• September 2014 Road safety review - Waterfall Way - Pacific Highway to Dorrigo.