The southern extension of the Kiama Coast Walk from Gerringong’s Boat Harbour to Black Head in Gerroa is a step closer after Kiama Council indicated support in the 2022/23 Operational Plan at its June meeting.

After years of lobbying, Peter Stuckey, the former manager of Kiama Council’s Parks & Environment, is delighted.

“It’s a very positive move on behalf of Council to finally provide resources and funding if necessary to make this happen because this is a win all round for Council and the community,” he says.

“It will provide our community and visitors with legal access to this shore line in perpetuity and connect up with existing public land.

“As we know, stage one from Kiama to Gerringong has been a huge success and stage two [from Boat Harbour to Black Head] will be the icing on the cake.”

Peter Stuckey with Howard Jones, at the Gerroa end of the walk

The former chair of the NSW Coastal Council, Professor Bruce Thom, who helped get the first stage of the Coast Walk established, has lent his support.

“I would think the next stage is for Council to prepare its case for a submission to the Coastal Lands Protection Scheme [which funds the purchase of any land],” he says.

“The fact that we already had support for stage one and successfully managed to secure the building of that walkway, that is now nationally known, is a logical argument that Council can put forward to the State Government for support.

“It is an area of incredible geological and landform beauty and it has the great opportunity to build on what has become a tourist attraction for Kiama.

“The ability to access such a stretch of coast going through old dairy land with the cliffs plunging into the sea is extraordinary.”

The proposed route

While the exact route of the track is still to be decided, a proposed route was endorsed in 2020, and in 2021 a community engagement plan was unanimously endorsed. However Mr Stuckey is disappointed nothing has yet eventuated.

Kiama Councillor Kathy Rice says there’s still a lot of work that is required but the action in the Operational Plan means the first steps can be taken.

“It’s going to take some years to get it finished. It is really critical to begin now so we can get the benefits as soon as we can for everybody,” she says.

“The action in the operational plan covers that beginning work so that we can move ahead with seeking funding from the Scheme.”