‘Enough is enough’: Wollongong MP Paul Scully’s blunt rock fishing hot spot plea

The pressure is mounting for more to be done to prevent rock fishing tragedies in the Illawarra in the wake of Brendan Buxton Hurd’s death, as his family prepare for his funeral.

Wollongong MP Paul Scully has declared “enough is enough” after the latest rock fishing tragedy off the Illawarra’s coastline.

Mr Scully’s comments came on Wednesday, the same day the body of 19-year-old Berkeley man Brendan Buxton Hurd was found off the Port Kembla shores after he was swept off the rocks at Hill 60 on ANZAC Day.

The death of Mr Buxton Hurd is the sixth tragedy to occur at the notorious South Coast fishing spot since 2021.

On Thursday, someone had used black electrical tape to turn the ‘5’ deaths recorded on the warning sign leading towards the ocean to ‘6’.

A makeshift alteration to the warning sign at the top of Hill 60 with tape turning the ‘5’ deaths into ‘6’. Picture: Dylan Arvela

“Enough is enough,” Mr Scully said.

Member for Wollongong Paul Scully has said “enough is enough”.

“This site needs to be designated as a location requiring life jackets to be worn; a warning or emergency alert system needs to be installed; and an awareness campaign beyond the Illawarra about the dangers at this spot needs to be launched.

“Waiting for another coronial report that will most likely again recommend the wearing of life jackets is wasting time.”

A GoFundMe page to raise money for Mr Buxton Hurd’s funeral has raised more than $5500 as of Thursday afternoon with his mother, Tracey, reaching out to thank those who had supported the family.

Brendon Buxton Hurd was a keen angler. Picture: Facebook

“I would like to thank everyone from both myself and all of Brendan’s family,” Tracey wrote on the page.

“His body was recovered yesterday. To all the people that took the time out of their own lives to search for Brendan’s body, thank you, I can’t express how much that means to all of us.

“For a moment there we all nearly gave up hope, but you all didn’t.

“Thank you to all that have donated. It’s all going to help us give him the send-off he needs and deserves.”

The family is getting shirts made with his name, birthday and the date he had “gone fishing”.

The date of the funeral is yet to be confirmed, but Tracey has asked people not to wear suits.

Mr Scully said he wants Wollongong Council to work with the NSW government to make the area “safer for fishers and those who need to rescue them”.

The notorious rock fishing location at the base of Port Kembla’s Hill 60. Picture: Dylan Arvela

The Rock Fishing Safety Act outlines that councils are required to opt-in to declare hot spots and make the wearing of lifejackets enforceable.

Randwick, Central Coast and Port Stephens are just some of the councils which have implemented the official hot spots, however, Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery has stated the city would need more than $30,000 of state government money to enforce it.

At a press conference at Hill 60 on Tuesday morning, as the search for Mr Buxton Hurd was ongoing, Superintendent David Iredale was pressed on whether lifejackets should be made mandatory for rock fishers.

He felt that they should be, but it’s more complex than that.

“No one wants to see a tragedy like this,” he said.

Superintendent Craig Iredale addressing the media on Tuesday. Picture: Dylan Arvela

“I would like to see life jackets made mandatory for rock fishing as they are in vessels, but it depends on the situation, certainly rock fishing at platforms like the one I am at the moment I think the wise move is to wear a life jacket.

“There’s the problem, if it becomes mandatory, the entire landmass of Australia is surrounded by water and it’s very difficult to enforce it.

“There are warning signs on location, I think a lot comes down to individual responsibility and we urge people to take all the necessary precautions; wear a life jacket; don’t fish alone, don’t fish at night and be aware that it’s particularly hazardous.

“I think the council is doing all they can to notify people and as police all we can do is try to enforce regulations.”