Council’s Director Engineering & Works, Gino Belsito, with Mayor Mark Honey, the Member for Kiama Gareth Ward MP and Councillor Warren Steel below the cliff face.

A long held dream of Councillor Warren Steel, to make the Bombo Headland more accessible for walkers, is a step closer with a $500,000 grant by the State Government through its Regional Growth Environment and Tourism Fund.

“At the moment the paths don’t link up as there is no way down the cliffs,” he says.

“This money is for a staircase cantilevered off the rock cliff face to enable people to walk right around the point from the Boneyard to Bombo.

“It is going to be a big tourist attraction. Already people are finding their way here, but once it is opened up it will rival the Blowhole for visitors.”

Mayor Mark Honey has long spoken of the potential for the headland to become a coastal botanic garden, and hopes the stairs will be a catalyst for further improvement of the area.

“It is such a dramatic landscape with its spectacular geological features and
remanent wetlands – we should make the most of it.”

Gareth Ward MP also sees the potential of the site to attract visitors.

“These grants don’t just enhance the liveability of our community for locals, they are a great tourist drawcard. This grant comes off the back of the $4.5 million I have secured for the Minnamurra River boardwalk and cycle way as well as $4.2 million for upgrades at the Minnamurra Rainforest,” he says.

The Bombo Headland Quarry is of one of the most significant geological sites in New South Wales and is heritage listed.

According to the Office of Environment and Heritage website: ‘The Bombo Latite Member is also of international scientific significance in providing one of a number of samples upon which the concept and limits of Kiaman Magnetic Interval were defined. Like rocks of Permian age throughout the world, the latite shows a reversed polarity (at the time of its extrusion the North and South magnetic poles were reversed).’

Council’s Director Engineering & Works, Gino Belsito, says detailed engineering work will now be undertaken to find the best design solution for the stairway.

“We have done preliminary work to establish whether it was feasible, but there is much detail to work out now we have the funding,” he says.

“I envisage there will be landings which can be used as viewing platforms to maximise its appeal.”

The money has been granted for the Bombo Headland Eco Walk, but Cllr Steel is still keen to call it the Thunder Track.

A decision on the name is yet to be made, with the idea of a public competition mooted.