Kids falling at Forster beach wall prompts MidCoast Council to replace fence

Reports of children hurting themselves falling from a high wall at a popular Mid-North Coast beach have prompted a council to act – annoying one councillor, who longs for the days of fewer lawsuits.

MidCoast Councillor Jeremy Miller took to app TikTok to express his thoughts on plans for a new fence at Forster’s Main Beach.

Reports of children hurting themselves falling from a high concrete wall at Forster’s Main Beach has prompted MidCoast Council to act – but one councillor reckons people just do not know how to be careful these days.

An old fence runs along the top of the 2.6 metre high concrete wall at the Mid-North Coast beach, one of the most prominent and bustling coastal locations in the entire region.

There has been reports of at least two children falling through the fence and injuring themselves. An urgent report was conducted showing the fence – which dates back to the 50s – was in very poor condition and at “end of life”.

When the issue came up for discussion at a recent MidCoast Council meeting, councillor Paul Sandilands said he remembered swinging on the fence as a kid.

MidCoast Councillor Paul Sandilands.

There have been reports of children falling through the old timber fence which MidCoast Council has identified as “in very poor condition and at end of life”.

He said workmanship and the materials used must have been excellent because “it’s been up there for about seventy years and it’s only just starting to fall to bits”.

Councillor Jeremy Miller said he was annoyed by a motion before the council to replace the fence sooner than anticipated.

“It’s just unfortunate because in the 50s people, including councillor Sandilands, knew to be careful when swinging on the fence – but in these days of personal injury and lawsuits we don’t want to open ratepayers up to a very expensive lawsuit.”

He emphasised his annoyance in his regular TikTok wrap up of the meeting later on.

Councillors voted unanimously to move forward with replacing the fence, with the stipulation any designs be bought back before them for consideration – and with completion anticipated in time for the Christmas school holidays.

Mr Miller said he would be looking closely at designs because the beach and promenade wall were “one of the most photographed places in our region.”

Concept drawings from the Forster Main Beach Master Plan, dated September 2018, showing tiered access from the promenade to the beach.

The new Forster Surf Life Saving Club pictured on July 10, nearing completion. Picture: Janine Watson.

The beach wall and promenade walk is at the heart of the Forster Main Beach precinct with the ocean baths, known as the Bullring to the south, extending up towards the new Forster Surf Life Saving Club, which is nearing completion.

The Forster Main Beach masterplan is a 30-year concept for the precinct.

The 2018 document already included plans for the removal of the fence with tiered access from the promenade to the beach, similar to that at Tuncurry Rockpool.

This element of the plan has been estimated to cost over $6 million with an expected timeline of 15 to 20 years.