Long-term Blackmans Bay blowhole safety fix delayed as Kingborough Council faces land ownership issues

Kingborough Council’s plans to make Blackmans Bay blowhole safer are being hindered by the owner of the land who refuses to transfer the title to the council.

Kingborough Mayor Dean Winter says works to make Blackmans Bay Blowhole safer are being hindered by the owner of the land. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

KINGBOROUGH Council’s plans to make Blackmans Bay blowhole safer are being hindered by the owner of the land who refuses to transfer the title to the council.

More than two years since a teenager fell to her death at the site, a long-term safety fix for the site is still some time away.

The council has undertaken a comprehensive site assessment and replaced the big wooden barrier at the end of the road.

The 1m high wire fence remains and is all that separates onlookers from the 20-30m high cliffs.

Kingborough Mayor Dean Winter said new signage had been ordered and would be installed to clarify safety aspects of the site.

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But Cr Winter said the council was limited in the works it could do until the ownership issues were resolved.

“The remaining recommendations being actioned are to consider changes to the ownership of the land and lighting,” he said.

“These issues remain outstanding with the ownership of the land remaining unresolved, which impacts on the council’s ability to enhance lighting.

“Obviously, the council would prefer to have been able to quickly and easily deal with this matter given its public importance.”

In March, Tasmanian Coroner Olivia McTaggart found the 2017 death of Richmond teenager Maggie Lore at the Blackmans Bay blowhole was a tragic accident and made a number of recommendations.

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They include:

THE council initiate a “comprehensive assessment of management and safety of the public area comprising the blowhole and cliff face area from Blackmans Bay beach to its end point on Talone Rd”, considering changes to the title of the land, and enhanced barriers, signage, lighting, seating and installation of CCTV systems.

THE council then considers the recommendations from the assessment and, if the council deems action is required, it develops a plan to undertake that action.

Cr Winter said the council was trying to meet with the owner to fix the issue swiftly.

“The land is, in practice, public land,” he said.

“It has been managed and maintained by the council for decades and I want to keep it that way.”

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