The long-awaited opening of the Bombo Quarry staircase could finally be in sight as contractors started work to rectify lingering issues on Monday 26 February 2024.

The work is expected to take six weeks and once completed, contractors can hand back ownership to Kiama Council to officially open and manage the stairs.

Initially slated to open to the public in 2022, the Bombo Quarry staircase has sat dormant without officially being declared open for more than a year while the public continues to use the stairs without explicit permission.

In September 2023, Kiama Council revealed that the stairs didn’t pass compliance inspections or achieve an Occupation Certificate required before any new buildings or infrastructure can be used. While the stairs are structurally sound, issues such as stair treads need to be addressed before contractors can hand management back to Kiama Council.

Kiama Council has repeatedly warned that while the stairs are structurally sound, they still cannot be used until they’re officially opened. That hasn’t stopped the public from continuing to use the stairs, and it’s no secret that walkers have made a habit of ignoring the warning signs while using the track between Kiama and Minnamurra and the Bombo headland.

Kiama Council received a $500,000 grant from the NSW State Government for the project in 2018, along with concrete and steel.