AQUISITION GOOD NEWS FOR COASTAL TRACK

The state government will move to acquire the private land needed by Kiama Municipal Council complete the coastal walking track between Gerringong and Kiama.

While negotiations continue with owners of the Wilson property that borders Werri Beach, four months will be allowed before compulsory acquisition begins.

"I support council's vision of an unbroken coastal walking track," Member for Kiama, Matt Brown told the Kiama Independent.

"I am also pleased the Minister for Planning will continue negotiations with landowners to find the right compromise and work towards a fair balance," he said.

The news was well received by council and community members who have rallied for the track for eight years.

"It's been a long time coming, but the government has done the right thing," Cr Howard Jones said.

Kiama Mayor, Sandra McCarthy, said the track would re-establish public access to some of the coast's most majestic coastline.

"As a major recreational and tourist attraction, the Coastal Walking Track will be of state significance and it is encouraging that the Department of Planning has already made an offer to the first land owner," Cr McCarthy said.

Three years ago council asked the state government for its support and believed it was the most appropriate form of action.

"Australians generally feel access to the coast is a human right," Cr Jones said.

"Given that the majority of the land was Crown land, it really was the role of the state to act," he said.

Council's manager of parks and gardens, Peter Stuckey has been involved in trying to obtain the land for public use since 1998.

"One of the things that made it so important was that people wanted to access the public land but were unable to because of the two pockets of private land between," Mr Stuckey said.

The six property owners involved have been in discussion with council regards the purchase of the land for the past six years.

"It's a route people used to walk on for years," he said.

"It's only the last couple of years that landowners stopped them."

Since being pursued from the northern headland of Werri Beach by the property manager of the Wilson farm four years ago, local fisherman, Dan McKerracher, has advocated for its public ownership.

"A man on a motorbike chased me and told me to leave the property," Mr McKerracher said.

"I was shocked " I had been fishing there since 1969," he said.

Last week Mr McKerracher celebrated the government's decision to acquire the land for public access.

Within the next financial year it was expected that the southern end of the track would be opened, enabling residents access to Campbell's Hole and what some locals call, "?Mermaids Pool'.

"I can't wait to be able to go fishing around there again " it's been about four years," Mr McKerracher said.

The site was also home to some geological treasures.

"There are some fantastic fossils, even of tree trunks, that you can see in the cliffs," he said.

The remaining five properties were expected to be purchased in the 2007/08 financial year and council work beginning then.

The path would be left in its natural state with a cattle fence running along the western side.

At this stage council have made preliminary plans for signposting will continue to formulate plans to address safety as the final property acquisition draws nearer.