Kiama’s Blowhole Point has been the site of fatal rock fishing incidents. Photo: Region.
Life jackets could soon be mandatory when rock fishing in Kiama, with the council voting to opt-in to the LGA being declared a high-risk location by the NSW Government.
The Kiama community has been devastated by more rock fishing tragedies than almost anywhere else in the state.
A dozen people have lost their lives along the Kiama coastline in the past decade while engaging in the recreational activity, with the most recent deaths only months ago at Black Head on the Australia Day weekend.
Just further south at Mermaid Inlet, a fisherman was swept off the rocks and drowned at the beginning of March.
AI cameras and education programs have aimed to reduce the risks associated with rock fishing in the area and save more lives, but the community has now made it clear they would like to see more done.
Community engagement around enforcing life jackets to be compulsory when rock fishing saw a majority in support of the action, including 78.3 per cent of the 139 participants in a quick online poll and 53 of 56 people who engaged in pop-up consultations.
Comments and concerns included life jackets needing to be more readily available to the community, the potential for installation of safety barriers and the mandatory safety equipment only being compulsory for young people.
Kiama councillors voted unanimously to request the Minister for Local Government to make a declaration under the Rock Fishing Safety Act 2016 that the the Kiama LGA is an area where high-risk rock fishing takes place with identified locations of the Minnamurra Headland, Bombo Headland, Blowhole Point, Marsden Head, Coastal Walking Track, Gerringong Headland and Black Head.
The move follows years of discussions and debates on the issue within the council chambers.
“I first put forward a motion on this on the 19th of July 2022 and how time flies,” councillor Imogen Draisma said.
“So I’m really glad to see that we’re progressing this and that the community agrees with our step towards making mandatory life jackets part of our coastline and part of rock fishing here in Kiama.”
Wollongong is currently the only LGA in the region declared high-risk.
The Rock Fishing Safety Act 2016 is the only legislative mechanism in the state that requires rock fishers to wear an appropriate life jacket at high-risk locations, and it could make a significant impact on current practices, with council’s community engagement survey revealing half of respondents never wore life jackets while rock fishing, with only 34.6 per cent wearing them every time they engaged in the activity.
In addition to support from the community, organisations such as NSW Police Port Kembla Marine Area Command, Lake Illawarra Police District, Surf Life Saving NSW – including three local surf clubs – and council’s supervising beach lifeguard have supported the move.
Kiama’s amateur fishing club had mixed opinions on the proposal, but in a submission said it agreed that “if it is too dangerous to fish, or you are inexperienced, the local rock ledges around Kiama are not suitable for novice rock fishers – lifejacket or not”.
Signage around Kiama to inform rock fishers of the changes is expected to cost between $5000 and $8000, with council hoping to receive grants to cover the cost.
