Charles Sturt councillors fear for safety of youths reportedly jumping off bridges at West Lakes

Youths jumping off a bridge at West Lakes are risking their lives – according to a Charles Sturt councillor – and now the council will try to stop them.

There are concerns jumpers off the footbridge connecting Lochside Drive to Corcoran Drive at West Lakes are risking their lives. Picture: PAULA THOMPSON

There are fears youths could be risking their lives by jumping from a bridge at Delfin Island at West Lakes.

Charles Sturt councillor Gerard Ferrao at Monday night’s meeting requested council staff draft a report to consider strategies to deter jumpers at the footbridge which connects Lochside Drive, West Lakes, to Corcoran Drive on Delfin Island.

The area has attracted jumpers for many years, leading to CCTV cameras and safety warning signs to be put up in the area. But the deterrents in place do not seem to be working.

“The bridge is a key amenity. But the nuisance from bridge jumpers takes away from the amenity of the bridge,” Mr Ferrao said.

There are concerns jumpers off the footbridge connecting Lochside Drive to Corcoran Drive at West Lakes are risking their lives. Picture: Paula Thompson

Councillor Tolley Wasylenko said bridge jumping was a major safety issue.

“Someone’s going to get killed,” he said.

Local resident Kevin Fox said in a deputation on Monday night that he was worried a council proposal to build a basketball court near the footbridge could also attract more young bridge jumpers to the area.

“Youths in their teens, usually up to eight in a group, often take a plunge from the bridge,” he said.

“We have never seen a bridge jumper on their own because it’s much more fun when you have someone to shout out to, often using obscene language.”

Councillor Stuart Ghent said, while CCTV was doing a great job of deterring nuisances and crimes in other areas, it did not seem to be putting off bridge jumpers.

“The anti-social behaviour, and noise, from the bridge and bridge jumpers is reluctantly tolerated because visiting council inspectors and police do stop the noise but they start again (once the inspectors/police leave),” he said.

“There’s no fines or any other reason why they wouldn’t do it again.”

Elected members agreed to draft a report before the April council meeting, detailing strategies that could be initiate to make safe the footbridge from bridge jumpers.

Options could include enclosing the foot bridge to make bridge jumping more difficult.