News - Bega Merimbula Eden Bermagui Tathra Pambula

The Mayor, Cr Tony Allen, said the plan had derived from a risk assessment of the wharves that Council had commissioned from Surf Lifesaving Australia after last year’s tragic accident at Tathra Wharf that claimed the lives of Shane O’Neill and his sons, Riley and Travis.

“Council staff met with the NSW Land and Property Management Authority (formerly the Department of Lands) this week to examine the report and agreed to convene a meeting with key stakeholders, such as the police, emergency services, the surf lifesaving clubs and others,  to discuss its recommendations,” Cr Allen said.

“Following that consultation, we will call public meetings in Tathra and Merimbula to discuss the report’s proposals that are supported by the stakeholders’ group and to devise a program of work to be carried out by Council and by the LPMA as the owner of the assets.”

Cr Allen said that, on the first anniversary of the Tathra Wharf tragedy, he was conscious of the pain of the O’Neill and Lambert families and he hoped this report would provide them with some answers.

“The families have the sympathy and the prayers of the Council and the whole community at this very sad time and our sincere hope that the actions that arise from this assessment and plan will ensure that such a tragedy can never happen again.”