WALKING TRACK STEPS CLOSER

Around 50 local residents keen to see the completion of a walking track between Gerringong and Kiama met with Kiama Mayor Sandra McCarthy and Kiama MP at North Werri Beach last Friday.

THE coastal walking track between Easts and Werri Beach could be a step closer to fruition with Kiama MP Matt Brown suggesting the remaining land needed to complete the walk may be compulsory acquired.

The NSW Department of Planning has tried unsuccessfully to negotiate the acquisition of a land corridor from the last remaining landowner for a number of years.

Without permission from the landowner, Werri Beach residents are forced to traipse around the dangerous Werri Headland in order to get to the popular fishing and swimming spots at Campbells Hole.

Meeting with around 50 locals at North Werri Beach last Thursday, Mr Brown used the opportunity to gauge support for the long awaited project.

It seems that the locals are very keen to see this project happen, he said.

A coastal walking track has been a Tourism Kiama project for some years, but progress towards making it happen has stalled.

The project requires walking on private property. However, landowners have legitimate liability concerns.

These, and other issues, have not been resolved. It seems compulsory acquisition may be the only option now, Mr Brown said.

Department for Planning Minister Frank Sartor has asked the Kiama MP if a compulsory acquisition order would be backed by the community.

In order to find out the community response, Mr Brown has written to every household near both beaches to gauge support for the project.

The government would only be looking at acquiring a small strip, he said.

It is important to remember that 85 percent of the land for this project is on crown land.

It is the remaining 15 percent we are having trouble securing, which is very disappointing.

Council view

Seeing the move towards compulsory acquisition as a positive step, Kiama Mayor Sandra McCarthy said it was pleasing to see the state government working to deliver the commitment made in 2004 to secure public access between Gerringong and Kiama via a walking track.

The Department of Planning indicated to council that it will acquire the lands necessary to establish the track and that funds are available to carry out the acquisitions, Mayor Sandra McCarthy said.

Council welcomes the recent actions of Kiama MP Matt Brown who will be making a representation to the NSW Planning Minister to demonstrate the local communitys support for the compulsory acquisition of the land required to establish safe public access to this stretch of coastline.

In keeping with State Policy regarding public access to coastal foreshores, Kiamas Coastal Walking Track will re-establish public access to some of the South Coasts most majestic coastline.

As a major recreational and tourist attraction, the Coastal Walking Track will be of state significance and it is imperative that no further delays occur that could jeopardise this project, Cr McCarthy said.