Kempsey Shire Council voted unanimously last week to investigate the safety of ocean access from Back Creek South West Rocks.
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Concerned local and experienced boater, Steve Blundell, addressed the councillors at the meeting last Tuesday and spoke of the dangers posed to boaters at the current ocean entrance.
“A longer breakwall would allow access at all tide levels and would make it safer,” he said.
“Having a safer entrance will bring fishing clubs back to the area and will increase tourism.”
There have been a number of incidents in the past where boats have capsized while attempting to navigate the ocean entrance.
A tragedy occurred in February 2016 when a fisherman died after his boat overturned after encountering a racing runout tide that combined to create severe conditions on the bar.
In another incident in 2017, two people were rescued after their boat capsized on the sand bar when they attempted to exit the river mouth.
Related content: South West Rocks resident seeks breakwall for safer passage to ocean
Councillor Bruce Morris put forward the original motion for council to look at improving safety for ocean access and that if investigations reveal it can at times be treacherous, that council then considers funding required to improve safety and that council includes an action in the next Delivery Plan.
“Council needs to be aware of safety issues. We need to investigate this,” Cr Morris said.
“As a duty of care we need to understand the concerns of locals who use this entrance to the ocean.”
Councillor Sue McGinn added that council needs to listen to the community.
“We should listen to the community, we also need to talk to the other stakeholders about this issue,” she said.
Mr Blundell said the issue of boating access at South West Rocks needs to be looked at by council.
“This will ensure more lives are not put at risk, it will save lives. At the moment we’re just waiting for more tragedies to happen,” he said.
Because of the complexity of the issue, Cr McGinn put forward an amended motion that council, with reference to improved boating access at Back Creek, workshop the matter with other relevant stakeholders in early 2019. The motion was carried.
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