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Locals and Government officals braved a crisp mountain morning at Berambing on Monday 17 November as residents, business owners and community groups gathered outside The Hive for the latest briefing on the $100 million Bells Line of Road safety upgrade. With traffic humming past and the wind picking up, federal and state representatives emphasised that this stage of the project involves local consultation.
The Australian Government is investing $100 million toward safety improvements on the stretch between Bell and North Richmond. Transport for NSW has released a proposed shortlist that includes shoulder upgrades, curve widening, intersection treatments, heavy-vehicle rest areas, safety barriers and flora and fauna protection measures. The public is now being asked to comment on these proposals and help determine which projects are delivered first.
Local Voices at the Centre
Federal Member for Macquarie Susan Templeman said the road’s daily users need to be central to every planning decision.
“It really needs local feedback,” Templeman said.
“Yes, this is a major thoroughfare between the Central West and Sydney, but it is our local road. Our grandmothers drive on it, we have learners learning to drive on it. It’s a crucial road for our community.”
Templeman noted that Labor governments had “fought hard to secure this $100 million investment because we know how critical it is to improve safety, protect wildlife and support local tourism and freight”.
“Your lived experience matters”
Blue Mountains MP Trish Doyle emphasised the importance of drawing on the knowledge of people who travel the route every day.
“The Bells Line of Road can be a dangerous and unpredictable road,” Doyle said.
“We have seen landslides, heavy rain, fire and terrible crashes. Today is about community, hearing what your views are. Locals who traverse the road, the tradies, the truckies and the visitors.”
A Road Shaped by Generations of Care
Bells Line of Road holds longstanding cultural significance. Long before European surveyors mapped the route in 1823, it followed pathways used by First Nations people. There are several stories about how the route was shared with Frist Nations and early Europeans working together, but what is clear is that the landscape had been travelled and maintained for generations.
Since colonial times, locals have continued to care for the road, reporting hazards, navigating changing weather conditions and advocating for improvements.
Residents who attended the announcement voiced their hopes for this upgrade to build on that tradition of local stewardship, by involving, valuing and employing people who know the road intimately. The consensus was that working closely with locals, who understand terrain, wildlife movements and seasonal risks firsthand, would lead to better outcomes for the whole community.
Aitchison: “When we listen, things get done”
NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison spoke openly to locals about the need to change how road projects are managed.
“You can spend more time debating the rules than fixing the problem,” she told residents gathered over coffee at The Hive.
“But when we actually listen, when we work side by side with councils and communities, things get done faster and better.”
Aitchison explained that previous disaster recovery systems left councils unable to commit to repairs because funding processes were stalled. Under refreshed agreements and structural reforms, she said, major works can now progress at the pace communities expect.
Drop-in Sessions and How to Have Your Say
Transport for NSW will hold local drop-in sessions starting this weekend, giving residents a chance to ask questions and share their knowledge in person:
Bilpin Markets
Saturday 22 November 2025, 10am to 12pm
Mount Tomah Botanic Garden
Saturday 22 November 2025, 2pm to 4pm
Redbank Village
Saturday 29 November 2025, 10am to 12pm
Kurrajong Friendly Grocer
Saturday 29 November 2025, 2pm to 4pm
Consultation is open until Sunday 14 December, and residents can also provide feedback online.
From early First Nations pathways to the work of pioneering roadbuilders and the knowledge of today’s mountain communities, Bells Line of Road has always been shaped by the people who use it.
Have your say at:
www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/bells-line-road
