However the councillor believes the focus now needs to be on obtaining funds for upgrading the walk itself, rather than the name.

Kiama Council is a trustee of the Bombo Headland Quarry, a heritage-listed site owned by the Department of Planning.

As part of his "Thunda Track" proposal, stairs leading up to a viewing platform are proposed for the quarry's northern face.

The council has pencilled in $25,000 in its draft 2015-16 budget for a conservation management plan for the Bombo Headland area. The cost, feasibility and safety issues of the stairs and platform will be addressed during the plan preparation.

Last June, the track, described as a "diversion" from the Kiama Coastal Walk through the former quarry's unusual basalt landscape, was named "Thunda Track" by the council as Bombo was believed to be an Aboriginal name for thunder.

Concerns were raised however that the deliberate incorrect spelling was insulting to Aboriginal people, while questions were raised whether Bombo actually was an indigenous word for thunder.

Eventually the name was rejected by the Geographical Names Board in March as the board said the track was already given an official name of "Bombo Headland Walking Trail" in 1989.

The rejection led Cr Neil Reilly to declare the name Thunda was "a dead duck".

Despite this, the council resolved 5-4 to investigate the possibility of informally naming and promoting the area as the Thunda Track, and the name will be further debated at its June meeting.

Cr Steel said he would be happy to compromise with "Thunder".

aarnold@fairfaxmedia.com.au