Residents split over plans to fence off notorious cliff jumping site
MORNINGTON Peninsula Council is locked in a battle with residents over plans to ban access to a notorious daredevil site.
South East
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A DEEP split in the Mt Martha community has emerged over plans to fence off the notorious daredevil site, The Pillars.
Several residents told a forum hosted by Mornington Peninsula Shire Council they strongly backed the move, saying municipal officials had no other choice.
THE PILLARS: DEATH WARNING IF GOVERNMENT FAILS TO ACT
THE PILLARS COULD BE FENCED OFF DUE TO INJURY RISK
PLANS RELEASED TO STOP LITTERERS, JUMPERS AT THE PILLARS
But others told the forum it was unfair on locals who wanted access, sarcastically querying whether closing surf beaches would be next.
A resident, Scott Crowe, said it was “totally unfair” to prevent locals gaining access.
And fishermen said they were concerned the council’s push for an ‘exclusion zone’ to prevent people gaining access by boat would curtail their angling.
But Cr Bev Colomb said the council had to take action, particularly as it faced legal liability if someone was injured at the site.
Council officials said they wanted to have a temporary fence costing $150,000 in place by December to limit access.
They indicated the fence would be in place for six months before a permanent fence was constructed.
The Pillars — a social media hotspot where thrillseekers jump from the cliffs into the bay — draws hundreds of visitors daily during warmer weather.
Locals have complained about broken glass, vandalism, fighting and aggressive behaviour after social media led to an influx of thrillseekers.
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