Authority urges safety near cliffs

AN ANNUAL public safety campaign has begun to educate the community on the hidden dangers of cliff failures along the Great Ocean Road.

February is the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority’s (GORCAPA) Cliff Safety Month.

The authority is reminding visitors and locals alike to prioritise safety while in the region.

People can do so by avoiding all cliffs and caves, sticking to established tracks, following all safety warning signs, and spreading the word about cliff safety.

Cliffs and bluffs make up 46 per cent of Victoria’s coastline and attract millions of visitors annually.

Unpredictable and sudden collapses are common, and are caused by natural forces including erosion, wind and waves.

Last month, a cliff failure occurred between the Anglesea Surf Life Saving Club and Point Roadknight.

Demons Bluff in Anglesea has been prone to cliff failure over the past five years, with GORCAPA permanently closing the site in September 2021.

Cliff falls at the site have been more than 100m in length, extending over 40m out from the cliff’s base.

In February last year, the stretch of beach from Bird Rock to The Steps in Jan Juc was also temporarily closed after a paraglider discovered giant cracks on the cliff top.

Three years ago, a man in his 20s perished on New Years Eve when a nearby cliff segment at Jarosite Cliffs, between Point Addis and Southside beaches, gave way.

GORCAPA coastal reserves manager Caleb Hurrell said cliff safety should be taken seriously all year round.

“Through this campaign, we’re doing all we can to raise awareness and share knowledge.

“Keeping everyone safe is a shared responsibility, starting with understanding the risks.

“As captivating as our cliffs and coves are, they conceal hidden dangers, and we want everyone to stay safe.”

He said GORCAPA’s rangers had been closely watching a crack that had developed at Soapy Rocks near Anglesea.

“On January 6, they observed approximately five cubic metres of cliff face had fallen on the beach.

“It’s a timely reminder that cliffs can fall anywhere at any time. Please use common sense and don’t stand or sit under a cliff.”

To monitor risks, Parks Victoria and GORCAPA will continue regular geotechnical assessments of cliffs.

GORCAPA stated its management of cliff hazards included ongoing monitoring including regular site visits, aerial imagery analysis and drone surveys to improve understanding of cliff dynamics; installation and maintenance of fencing on clifftops to keep users away from the cliff edge; and relocating assets such as walking tracks inland away from the cliff edge as erosion encroaches landward.

For more information, head to greatoceanroadauthority.vic.gov.au/Environment/Coastal-Operations/Cliff-Risk