MEMBERS of the public are now likely to make a 600 metre round trip on foot to view the historic Robe Obelisk.
The red-and-white stone navigational guide has been a Cape Dombey landmark since it was erected 160 years ago.
It is also a tourist focal point but its car park is currently out-of-bounds following concerns about the stability of the cliff on which it is built.
Robe District Council commissioned consultants to undertake an assessment of the cliff and chief executive Roger Sexton provided a summary to the January council meeting this week.
“After the initial inspection of the site, the engineers met and recommended that council take immediate action to restrict the vehicle access to the obelisk carpark,” Mr Sweetman said.
“This work was done by council staff members the same day.
“Council staff and contractors have started undertaking works in accordance with the recommendations contained within the report to ensure public safety and mitigate council’s risk exposure.
“While the report states the obelisk car park could be reopened in a restricted format, council staff members are recommending that council continue to restrict all vehicles to this area.”
Mr Sweetman said council staff members felt they would be unable to restrict heavy vehicles such as caravans, buses and large “Winnebago “type vehicles.
“Therefore, as this restriction could not be managed it is felt that a better risk management strategy would be to restrict all vehicles to the Obelisk car park.
“The area contained within the fencing is substantially reduced in size and therefore if a large vehicle, car and caravan for example, did inadvertently drive into the restricted car park it would have difficulty turning around.
“International tourists may not read or understand the restriction and inadvertently drive large vehicles into the restricted car park area.
“The consultant’s report acknowledges that at some time in the future all vehicles will be prevented from accessing the car park.
“Pedestrian access to the Obelisk viewing area will be maintained and, as it is an easy 300 metre walk, the public will not be disadvantaged.”
He said there was also an opportunity in future budgets to provide a formal path connecting the closed section of the Obelisk Road to the public viewing area to make it easier for all members of the community to access the area.
“In order that vehicle movement can be managed along Obelisk Road the car park at the Old Gaol has been extended to cater for larger vehicles.
“Council has obtained approval from Crown Lands and the Native Vegetation Management branch to make alteration to the Old Gaol car park to allow this to occur.
“Advisory signage will be placed at the Old Gaol carpark and at the intersection of the Obelisk Road and Adam Lindsay Gordon Drive advising the public of the changes that have occurred and the reasons for these changes.”
