Environment Minister Susan Close orders Morialta Conservation Park review after fatal fall

An urgent safety review into Morialta Conservation Park’s walking tracks will start after a tragic death – but locals are against “invasive” guard rails.

The Deputy Premier has ordered a safety review of the walking tracks at Morialta Conservation Park after a man tragically fell to his death off a cliff at the weekend.

Susan Close, who is also the Environment Minister, said a review into the park’s safety would begin Monday.

“As you’d imagine with all incidents that occur in national parks we undertake an investigation, and they (the department) will be starting one today,” Ms Close told ABC Radio Adelaide on Monday.

Robert Bell, 48, of Houghton, fell about 100m to his death down a cliff at the park on Saturday morning.

Friends of Black Hill and Morialta secretary John Fleming warned against intrusive safety measures, including railings, which he said would impede on the conservation park.

“We would not want to see intrusive structures or engineering put in place that would in any way detract from the fact that it is a conservation park and the natural spaces,” he said.

“Its purpose is for conservation, the fact that people can visit it is a privilege for those people visiting and we need to be mindful that it is a natural space and take care.

“It’s very sad, but not every risk in our life can be protected against.”

Mr Fleming is hoping the review will bring greater awareness to communities about conservation spaces.

“We would like to develop a greater awareness of the importance of natural spaces, and the importance of intact ecosystems, and for the community to understand and respect wild spaces,” he said.

“(People need to) be mindful that there are reasonable risks associated with (conservation parks) and to be cautious around edges.”

Emergency crews rushed to the scene just after 8.30am but tragically Mr Bell couldn’t be saved.

“SAPOL is leading in terms of what actually happened for Mr Bell and that tragedy … but we will also undertake our own investigation about the condition of the track, the signage, and any other factors that come up,” Dr Close said.

A 48-year-old Houghton man has died after falling more than 100 metres off a cliff while hiking on the First Falls Walking Track in the Morialta Conservation Park. Picture 7NEWS

The Morialta tracks will be reviewed from Monday. Picture 7NEWS

“There are areas that are steep, there are areas that are slippery and areas that don't have guardrails and it isn’t a sort of guided experience the entire way where you’re not ever in danger of looking over a cliff edge, it is part of the experience.”

Dr Close said the park has seen more foot traffic in recent years as people reconnect with nature during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“That’s one of the factors I’d like the department to look at, it may be sufficient if there’s just a handful of people walking up but if there’s a crowded situation, does that there are areas we need to be a bit more careful to protect people's safety?” she said.

“None of us want to see these incidents occur, no-one want so see people slipping off.”

Mr Bell’s devastated wife Rebecca took to Instagram to share the news.

“It is with a broken heart that I post that the love of my life lost his life today,” she wrote. “Thank you to all his friends and our family who have been there for the girl[s] and I today. He has left a massive hole in my heart. RIP my love.”

Mr Bell was remembered by his beloved Ingle Farm Soccer Club, of which he was a life member, as being lovingly known as Bellmeister, Belly, and Robbie.

“He was an all-round club man. He is loved by us all and will be missed even more,” it said.

“Rest in peace Belly.”

A Hope Valley man who did not wish to be named arrived at the park about 8.45am Saturday with his wife.

“The tracks are slippery,” he said. “My wife slid twice this morning.”

Originally published as Environment Minister Susan Close orders Morialta Conservation Park review after fatal fall