The sheer cliff face at Austinmer's Brickyard Point needs to be permanently fenced off to prevent children from falling on to the rocks below, Wollongong City Council says.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The dangerous 20 -metre drop has become problematic in recent years due to the popularity of the multi-million dollar Headlands development, which was built without a fence to allow for public access.
In late 2018, the council installed a temporary fence along the headland in front of the hotel after residents reported dangerous 'near misses' involving children.
"We take the safety of our community, and in particular our children's safety, very seriously,'' the council's director of infrastructure and works Andrew Carfield said.
"After we had a number of reports of near misses by children playing near the clifftop edge we installed a temporary fence and completed a number of safety inspections."
The council has met with residents and other stakeholders, some of whom object to a fence being installed on the public headland, and has decided to progress with installing a barrier.
"We know that not everyone will agree with this option, but we believe it's the best way to keep everyone safe in this area," Mr Carfield said.
"We believe the best way to reduce the risk of an accident at this site is to install a permanent fence that is designed to discourage climbing and we will do this in a way that is as visually unobtrusive as possible."
He said the council need to gain various approvals to undertake work in the sensitive cliff-side location.
In the meantime, it will move the existing temporary fence closer to the edge of the cliff, which aligns with the proposed placement of the permanent barrier.
The permanent fence will be a "slimline" design set lower than the temporary fencing, which the council says will minimise its obtrusiveness.
"I'd like to assure everyone that we're taking the right steps to protect residents, visitors and energetic children when visiting this popular spot.," Mr Carfield said.