Have your say on rock fishing safety

Wollongong City Council is seeking community feedback on a proposal to make life jackets mandatory for rock fishers at high-risk locations in our Local Government Area.

Community consultation is open until Sunday 24 July 2022 through Council’s website.

Seeking comments from our community is the latest step by Council to address concerns about the dangers of rock fishing, and is part of our ongoing response address community concerns about rock fishing deaths in our city.

“We’ve seen six families and their friends and networks devastated by the deaths of loved ones while rock fishing since January last year and we need to find a way to reduce this risk to individuals and to the emergency services who are called into assist when something goes wrong,’’ Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said.

“Council and a range of other key stakeholders are all in agreement that we need to do more to try and prevent these deaths. Already, Council has installed warning signage at Hill 60, we’ve worked with Surf Life Saving, NSW Maritime Police and other key agencies on educational opportunities, and this community engagement about making life jackets mandatory is another phase to help us have the strongest possible response to this ongoing matter.’’

The focus of the engagement is to seek feedback on a proposal for Council to opt-in to the Rock Fishing Safety Act 2016. This would see targeted locations within our local government area declared as high-risk rock fishing locations and make wearing life jackets mandatory.

“We are well-aware that there is debate in the NSW State Parliament about legislation relating to life jackets and we welcome these broader conversations,’’ Cr Bradbery said.

“However, it is also important that as a community we have our own views and a clear position on the issue of rock fishing safety.

“I encourage those in our community who have an opinion, and want to have a voice in this debate, to jump onto Council’s website and share their feedback.’’