No new safety measures at Blackmans Bay blowhole, nearly 12 months after death

NEARLY a year after a young woman fell to her death, no new safety measures have been added to the popular Blackmans Bay blowhole.

The Blackmans Bay Blowhole. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

ALMOST a year after a young woman fell to her death, no new safety measures have been added to the popular Blackmans Bay blowhole.

In January, 17-year-old Margaret Lore fell 15m to her death after losing her footing on the popular clifftop area.

The tragedy prompted locals to call for better fencing and warning signs.

But when the Mercury went to the site late last week there were no improvements to the fencing, with parts of the fence able to be stepped over.

But there was a handmade sign — in addition to a memorial for the popular teenager — warning about the danger in the area.

Despite council staff doing a site assessment of the area — recommending that the council seek a lease agreement from the State Government to take control of the Crown land — Kingborough councillors in March voted to defer taking any ownership of the land until the coroner’s report is completed.

This led to a heated discussion at the council’s last meeting for the year last week, with Cr Dean Winter, who voted against the March decision, saying it needed to take responsibility to prevent anything similar from occurring.

Cr Winter said the council should not wait for the coroner’s report to be finished to ensure the site was safe.

“In parts, the fence is so low you can step over it with only a few metres between the fence and the cliff edge,” he said.

“While there is little danger to locals who know the area, it has been proven to be dangerous through the tragic accident earlier this year.

“We are nearly 12 months since the last accident and nothing has changed but the flowers attached to the fence.

“No one is taking responsibility for the management of the area.

“There’s no known time frame for the conclusion of the coroner’s work and to do nothing but wait leaves us open to another tragic accident.”

Kingborough Mayor Steve Wass said: “From my perspective, I’m disappointed that we have not got the coroner’s report back.

“We are waiting on that because it’s not our land.

“Our hands are really tied until the coroner’s report is released.

“If there are things that need to be done, we will work with the landowners to implement them.”

Originally published as No new safety measures at Blackmans Bay blowhole, nearly 12 months after death