Nethercote Falls is a no-go area with the Forestry Corporation of NSW stating it will close the road from the picnic area at Falls Link Road to the track descending to the falls.
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Forestry Corporation of NSW’s partnership co-ordinator Brendan Grimson said part of the Falls Link Road in the Nullica State Forest would now be permanently closed for safety reasons.
He said that it was not one of Forestry’s assets that it wanted to promote because there had been a number of incidents there.
“The part section of Falls Link Road from the upper picnic area is now closed and will permanently exclude the lower car park.
“Works are scheduled for early September to install a locked gate to facilitate closure to Nethercote Falls in response to safety incidents.
“We put road closures in place for the safety of forest users, so please don’t attempt to walk or cycle past or around them,” Mr Grimson said.
While he acknowledged that people would still be able to walk there he said: “The wider picture is that we’re not wanting to see people there. There are plenty of other sites.”
He said that there were plenty of alternative areas to visit such as Newtons Crossing, Imlay Road and Scrubby Creek, all in the Eden area.
“We encourage locals to get out and enjoy the region’s State forests, but please keep in mind that some sections of the Falls Link Road have been closed for the community’s safety,” Mr Grimson said.
The area has been a popular spot for locals in the summer months but there have been some serious accidents at the site. In March 2013, Amalia Plevey was rescued by her school friend, Cooper Woods, after she fell from rocks around the Nethercote Falls and hit her head. Cooper was named National Child of Courage at the National Pride of Australia awards in Sydney later that year for his actions at the time.
In December 2013 four young locals were involved in a serious accident on the Nethercote Falls Link road when the car they were travelling in lost control on a bend in the unsealed road and hit a tree. At the time police said the four aged between 15 and 18, from Merimbula, Tathra and Bega, were lucky to have escaped death.
Earlier this year Bega Valley Shire Council rangers, Merimbula Fire Brigade and a local SES team were called to Nethercote Falls after a dog had managed to get itself stuck on the cliff face.
Mr Grimson said: “There are plenty of forest trails at forests on the south coast of NSW that will remain open for bushwalking, horse riding and bike riding, and we encourage locals to get out and explore these areas.”
Visit forestrycorporation.com.au/visit or #visitnswforests on Facebook for more visitor information.
