Jenny Aitchison
Minister for Roads
Minister for Regional Transport
Steve Kamper
Minister for Jobs and Tourism
Minister for Lands and Property
Minister for Multiculturalism
Minister for Sport
Janelle Saffin
Minister for Recovery
Minister for Small Business
Minister for the North Coast
New Taskforce to coordinate support for Great Western Highway communities
Thursday, 19 March 2026
The Minns Labor Government has today announced the establishment of the Great Western Highway Community Coordination Taskforce.
The Taskforce is a whole-of-government initiative chaired by the NSW Reconstruction Authority and Transport for NSW, designed to streamline support to those impacted by the prolonged closure of the Great Western Highway.
The NSW Government recognises the significant and ongoing disruption this has caused across the Blue Mountains and the Central West for communities, local businesses freight and industry.
The NSW Reconstruction Authority's coordinating role in recovery makes them the ideal agency to support the whole-of-government response for this disruption. The Taskforce will provide a single point of contact for those affected to raise issues with the NSW Government and enable direct collaboration between state agencies to ensure support can be directed where it's needed most.
The Taskforce will include representatives from NSW Government agencies, local councils, industry and community stakeholders to ensure government decision-making is informed by the needs of residents and businesses. It will hold its inaugural meeting this Friday, 20 March 2026.
The closure of the Great Western Highway remains in place following a serious geotechnical failure at Mitchell's Causeway. While testing and monitoring remain underway, Transport for NSW continues to observe significant cracking and movement at the closure site, reinforcing the need for a cautious and safety-led response.
Transport for NSW remains the lead agency for managing the closure, site investigations, detours, traffic operations and public transport alternatives.
In the interim, the NSW Government is also providing the following support:
Transport
- Extra rail, coach and bus services have been introduced to support Blue Mountains and Central West communities, while amended school and regular route bus services are helping reduce journey times for students affected by the closure.
- The Bells Line of Road remains open and continues to carry most detoured traffic.
- Crews are taking advantage of the final weeks of warm weather to complete essential road works on the Darling Causeway, including widening shoulders on the narrow route to improve safety and support traffic flow during the closure.
- An incident management team has been established to coordinate with local councils, freight operators, the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator and other agencies, while the NHVR has established an enforcement site at Mount Boyce to strengthen oversight of the freight task and traffic movements.
Local business
- The Acting Small Business Commissioner is meeting with Lithgow and Blue Mountains Business Chambers and local businesses to identify the support needed to navigate the closure.
Tourism
- Destination NSW is working with Destination Central West, Blue Mountains Tourism and local councils to understand the challenges facing tourism operators and identify where support can be provided, including through coordinated promotional activity and visitor messaging.
- A broader regional response is already underway, including business engagement with industry, work on a regional tourism and communications approach, and ongoing coordination with councils and local stakeholders.
The NSW Government is committed to providing regular updates as testing and work continues on the site, across the detour network, and through the wider community support effort.
This remains a serious public safety issue. The Government's focus is on reopening the road safely, managing the disruption and ensuring communities are kept informed throughout.
