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Wedding Cake Rock on borrowed time

Media release: 23 June 2015

Geotechnical investigations into the stability of the popular rock platform known as Wedding Cake Rock have confirmed the National Parks and Wildlife Service’s (NPWS) fears that all, or part of, the unique formation could collapse without warning.

NPWS Regional Manager, Gary Dunnett said safety concerns for the many visitors to the site prompted NPWS to close access to the rock shelf until geotechnical investigations were completed, which included a photographic survey of the underlying rock strata using a drone.

“We have now received the results and the report is clear - standing on the rock platform risks a truly tragic outcome,” Mr Dunnett said.

“The geotechnical report assessed the stability of Wedding Cake Rock and found that the edges or the entire formation could collapse at any time.

“Perhaps most alarming was the drone footage that clearly shows that Wedding Cake Rock is precariously balancing on the edge of the cliff and severely undercut.

“Alarmingly, the results of earlier collapses can be seen scattered over lower ledges and at the bottom of the cliff.

“The vertical fractures that make the rock look like a slice of wedding cake clearly mark where it will eventually give way and tumble to the sea fifty metres below.

“We will now take action to create a new and safer way to allows visitors to take in the beauty of the site without compromising their safety.

“This will likely mean a new viewing platform further back from the edge that will allow people to safely take those incredible shots of the rock formation that have become internationally recognisable.

”This is not about closing the site, it is about making it a safe place to visit and enjoy the view.”

Mr Dunnett said while the site has always been a highlight of the Royal National Park Coast Walk, its popularity grew rapidly over the last three months, driven by a social media trend of posting photos from the site.

“All cliff edges are dangerous but in this instance we were particularly concerned with the number of people standing on the rock shelf and close to the edge at any one time and what would happen if the platform gave way,” Mr Dunnett said.

“This is a really beautiful location and we still want people to be able to visit this and other specular rock formations along the Royal Coast Walk -the key is doing it from a safe distance.

“While the tests were being completed, NPWS took every precaution to protect visitors, putting up temporary safety fencing and having staff on hand over the weekends.  The temporary fence will remain in place along with clear signage warning visitors that the rock platform is unstable and dangerous to stand on.

“The site was named as a result of it resembling the squared silky layers of a white wedding cake – the colour an indication that the iron in the sandstone had been leached out over time and leaving it pure white but also significantly weakened.  

The NPWS has committed to ensuring that whatever safety precautions are put in place, visitors can continue to take in the iconic strong white angular edges of Wedding Cake Rock for as long as it remains before plummeting into the sea.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5eAz81fjNQ&feature=youtu.be 

TV quality raw vision of Wedding Cake Rock from the drone available here: https://vimeo.com/130274743

Flickr images:   https://www.flickr.com/photos/nswnationalparks/sets/72157654488905000

Contact: Gabrielle Last

Page last updated: 23 June 2015