A bold plan, dating back more than 50 years, to create an epic world-class walking track along the Illawarra escarpment has a new champion in the Shellharbour Mayor, Chris Homer.

The proposal, first raised in the early 1970s by the South Coast Conversation Society, was adopted in the 1980s by the former mayor of Kiama, Neville Fredericks.

As the Illawarra Flame reported earlier this month, Neville, now in his 80s, wants to see a revival of the plan to link the Royal National Park in the north with Cambewarra Mountain in the south.

An avid walker, Neville believes the 150-kilometre track would rival any other trail in Australia as it passes along clifftops, through a variety of coastal vegetation, close to waterfalls and provides scenic vistas to the river valleys and beaches below,

In 1987, when mayor of Kiama, Neville created a sub-committee of the Illawarra Region of Councils to advance the proposed Illawarra Escarpment Track.

"All five councils (Wollongong, Shellharbour Kiama, Shoalhaven and Wingecarribee) were represented, and each took responsibility to map out the route in their council area," Neville said.

As happens, when Neville was no longer the mayor and champion of the project, it lapsed.

Track proposal has a new champion

It now seems the escarpment track project may have a new champion in Shellharbour Mayor Chris Homer.

A self-confessed lover of the outdoors, Chris sees huge benefits in reviving the Illawarra Escarpment Track concept and, as the current chair of the Illawarra Shoalhaven Joint Organisation (ISJO), he plans to put it on the agenda when the region's newly elected mayors meet for the first time this year.

"This has been a long-running initiative, and it seems the north side of the track is really getting legs," Chris said. 

The NSW Government has committed more than $30 million to enable work to take place on the trail from the Royal National Park, 67 kilometres south to Sublime Point above Austinmer. Work on that section is expected to be completed this year.

Chris Homer is enthusiastically supporting Neville Fredericks' vision to extend the track another 82 kilometres to the south.

"We now need to get the south side of this initiative moving with some strong advocacy," he said.

A 'phenomenal' project

"I'm a huge supporter of this project and having something which takes you through our bushland along the escarpment I think would be phenomenal.

"It will allow people who use the track to experience another special part of our region, away from the beaches which we are best known for.

"As the current chair of ISJO, I find myself in a very similar position to what Neville was in all those years ago.

"I will have a discussion with the other mayors on ISJO and put something on the table when we meet. I will do everything in my power to move this forward."

Spur trails linking suburbs

Chris welcomed news that the Illawarra Escarpment Track would include spur tracks linking coastal communities at West Dapto and Albion Park with the main escarpment trail.

"That would be fantastic, creating spine tracks from different LGAs, and making it easier for more people to walk up and join it."

With his background in health, the Shellharbour mayor said the Illawarra Escarpment Track would provide a multitude of benefits to locals and visitors to the region.

Beneficial for people's health

"Getting people back to nature in the outdoors has so many benefits and it's so important for good health. The Japanese call it 'forest bathing' (a research-based healing practice through immersion in forest environments with the aim of promoting mental and physical health)."

Chris acknowledges the escarpment track will take time and considerable investment but he is ready to step up and support Neville Fredericks as a mayoral champion.

"I am absolutely on board," Chris said.