At the last Kiama Council meeting, a report on the proposed community engagement plan for the southern extension of the Coastal Walking Track was unanimously endorsed.

The consultation is expected to start next month, however landowners and other affected stakeholders, who have been waiting for more than 18 months for contact with someone (“anyone”) from Council, are frustrated they have been kept in the dark so far.

The proposed route of the coastal walk from Boat Harbour, Gerringong to Black Head, Gerroa was raised and discussed at length at Gerringong’s South Precinct meeting in June, noting the extreme disappointment of affected stakeholders that requests for discussions with Council have gone unheeded for years.

This led to Councillor Neil Reilly calling for a report from staff, which resulted in the news of the community engagement plan.

Of the eight properties crossed by the preferred route for the extension, only three are owned by individuals and one by the golf course. The remaining properties are established public reserves or Council land.

“We’ve had no contact with Council, officially or unofficially, to address any of our concerns,” says Geoff Manning, President of the Golf Club.

“It would be a good start if someone would come out here and talk to us.”

Gerringong Golf Club's Geoff Manning, Wendy Cutting, Michael Gleeson and Tony Sears

One landowner told The Bugle that he reached out to the mayor “three or four times, inviting him to come and walk the proposed route with me”, but has been consistently ignored.

None of these stakeholders are against the extension to the coastal walking track, but feel they have issues that need to be addressed before further planning takes place.

Gerringong Golf Club committee members are already concerned about the lack of maintenance of Council land to the north and east of the golf club.

Vice-President Michael Gleeson says the pathway to Walkers Beach has never been maintained.

“No signs exist to warn of the dangers of the beach, the fact that it’s unpatrolled and whether or not it is dog friendly. This beach and pathway have just been ignored by Council.”

Geoff says the Club would like Council to share some of the risk and liability in the event someone is hit by a golf ball.

“If there are too many liability issues attached to running the golf course, we will struggle to get a management committee and the land may be sold off to a developer,” he says.

Secretary Wendy Cutting notes that the route of the walkway may impact on the golf course’s signature holes, “which are in the top 10 par 5 holes in NSW”.

Destination NSW heavily promotes this golf course because of its spectacular location. It does note on its website that “this course occupies some of the most in-demand real estate on the South Coast”. The extension of the walking track is included in the Tourism Opportunity Plan, as well as being a long time top priority of Council’s Walking Tracks and Cycleways Committee.

Peter Stuckey, the former Manager of Kiama Council’s Parks & Environment and one of the main people behind the 13 year effort to open the Loves Bay to Gerringong stage of the walk, says landowners should be one of the first groups consulted in such a project.

“Landowner consultation is a priority and there definitely should be a site inspection undertaken with them. There should also be a meeting as soon as possible with the Golf Club to address queries.

“This is one of Kiama’s most significant projects to benefit the community and tourism - something that can be created for all future generations to enjoy.

“It is important that this process is managed properly.”

Last December we reported that Council expected a submission for funding for any land acquisition would be made last January, however we have now been told that a formal funding application will be made after the community consultation.

Back then, Peter Stuckey and former Councillor Howard Jones shared their concern that the funding was limited, and that Council needed to act quickly so as not to miss out.