A KURRAJONG Village resident is fuming over Hawkesbury City Council hypocrisy, complaining that Council workers have been quick to take down community fundraising banners but slow to act on a potentially dangerous broken netting barrier at Bellbird Lookout on Bells Line of Road.

In late 2007 the Hawkesbury City Council commenced upgrade works on the Rotary Centennial Lookout at Bellbird Hill Reserve, including the construction of a new observation viewing deck, and associated landscaping and pathways.

The area was closed to the public from November 14 to January 25 for construction, and five months later remains unfinished – with a piece of orange netting stretched across a large gap in the lookout railing.

Local resident Gerry Faulkner regularly drives past the lookout, and said for two months the temporary orange netting was broken and flapping in the wind – posing a safety risk for lookout users.

Mr Faulkner complained to Council on Friday afternoon, and the netting was tied back in place with a piece of string by a Council worker that day.

Mr Faulkner is annoyed the Council had time to take down his unapproved fundraising banners recently, but not enough time to fix the situation at Bellbird Lookout.

“We were fundraising in the village at Kurrajong for a shadecloth for the children in the playground so that they’d be protected from the sun,” he said.

“They told us to take it down because we didn’t have an application.”

Mr Faulkner said the unfinished lookout was a potential hazard for the elderly and young children, which was amplified by poor visibility at night.

Hawkesbury City Council director of infrastructure services Chris Daley said the netting should not have become loose in a strong breeze, however, it was possible that it was interfered with by members of the public.

“There is not a significant risk to the safety of the public,” Mr Daley said. “While the ground surface slopes away steeply, there is no sudden drop.”

Mr Daley said works at the lookout were continuing, although they had been delayed due to wet weather and contractor availability.

“It is hoped to have the works completed by the beginning of September 2008,” he said.