After five men died after being washed off rocks at Hill 60 at Port Kembla in two separate incidents just weeks ago, it would seem pretty clear that whatever education campaigns and warning systems we have aren't doing the job.

The council will seek a report into how the lifejacket mandate has worked in Randwick City Council, one which has opted in.

Yes, Wollongong's council loves reviews, reviews, plans and strategies. They can be perfect in ways grubby reality and concrete action can never achieve. The trouble is, these things can take months, if not years, before the plan is implemented.

But who has actually passed the buck? This is not a problem of the council's making - it was the NSW Government which flagrantly shirked its obligation after the 2015 inquest into eight rock fishing deaths recommended compulsory lifejacket laws.

Its response was an "opt-in" scheme where councils could decide if they wanted the mandate, and would be responsible for implementation. Opt-in was a cop-out and of course mayors were spooked by the cost.

Read more: Wollongong MP calls for action after Hill 60 deaths

Was there ever an opt-in scheme for seatbelts in cars? Lifejackets in boats?

It needs to be said: anyone who fishes on rocks does so at their own risk. There's no such thing as a freak wave - waves vary in size and this should be expected. But many fishers are not local, not familiar with particular conditions, and helping them stay alive does not have to be hard.

The Randwick example, as council should soon discover, has not been difficult. The police Marine Area Command took the leading role in enforcement, with National Parks and Fisheries officers also involved.

The council rarely had to send its own rangers out to patrol the rock shelves, which would be a tough ask given they are a dangerous environment.

And, crucially, large and scary signs have been erected warning of deaths in popular fishing areas.

It has to be asked, would we be seeing action dragged out for so long if it weren't visitors - overwhelmingly of Asian origin - who make up the majority of fatalities?

Wollongong will gather good information from looking at the Randwick example. In the meantime, there's no reason why councils should not push ahead with prominent signage, in the relevant languages, warning visitors of the perils and risks on the rocks. This doesn't need to await a report, does it?

We depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support.