THE LOVE LOCKS OF THE SEA CLIFF BRIDGE
The Sea Cliff Bridge Love Locks has attracted hundreds lovers who leave engraved padlocks, as a symbol of their love for each other. Being on Government property has prompted them to act as the padlocks are causing damage to the railings. They are all now being removed and catalogued. Wollongong City Council may provide facilities for lovers to attached their padlocks in the future.
Channel Nine’s Today show has produced a piece on the Sea Cliff Bridge’s Love Locks. Mike Dalton creates a touching, yet humorous piece on The Lock Love of the Sea Cliff Bridge.
Transcript
Well it’s not often that you’ll find government agencies bending over backwards to help celebrate the passion, the glory, the wonder of love.
But as Today’s Mike Dalton reports, this is indeed the case with the story of the Love Locks of the Illawarra.
Skirting the escarpment of the New South Wales South Coast is the beautiful Sea Cliff Bridge.
And it seems the beauty here has drawn thousands of lovers to this point.
To commit to each other, by locking an engraved padlock on the bridges railings
Chris & Susan, Grant & Viv, Shaun & Sarah have done so, as have Cookie & Macca, Yihan & Yuwel, Doug & Paul and Peas & Carrots
All declairing their love to the world, with a padlocked pledge.
But these padlocks are pledged on government property, and a call has been made for them to go.
Brad Turner is regional manager for the Roads and Maritime services
“Don’t you love, love Brad?” “Yes, I love Love”
But the problem I think is, while the sentiment might be lovely, they after a while maybe don’t look so lovely.
But in a somewhat surprising turn of bureaucratic wheels the removal of the padlocks is being done with the greatest of care.
Each padlock is measured, marked, and catalogued by “Watto” Watson and his crew.
“So you’re not willy-nilly tossing them over the bridge or anything, you’re cataloguing, you’re caring for them”, “We are, yes yes”, “Cupid with dirty hand”, “Thank you very much” “You big sweetie”.
Silvia & Neville Brown came down to grabs theirs back. “Give us the story of the lock” it was put on in 2009 for our 40th Wedding Anniversary, our daughter bought it for us.”
It’s obviously a place with a lot of love.
But for some, the colour of rust clouded their view of love in the air.
“Engineering wise, these locks are disgusting.”
“Ted what about love mate love?”
“Love? you take your wife, your take you them to a restaurant and that’s where it starts.”
So what did Ted’s wife Pam think? I thought I’d better ask her.
“I’d be so thrilled after 46 years of marriage, to think that we’ve got that everlasting memory but nope; he just doesn’t like them”.
“Hey Ted! you’re in trouble”
But lovers fear not, councillor Chris Conner from Wollongong City Council
“We could have an installation at some of these very important locations, like here at the Sea Cliff Bridge, so that people visiting, can attached their love locks there in total safety, knowing they’re not going to be interfered with. And they can come back into the future and see their love locks in place.” “Thanks”.
And the bridge bosses agree; “so the Roads and Maritime Services are still intending to foster love?” “We’re all about love” “Thanks big fella” “I can’t wait till my wife sees this.”
That’s a beautiful thing isn’t it?
“Yeah, and if you and the love of your life have left a lock on the bridge. You can claim it back; details are on the Roads and Maritime Services website.
If you or the person you’re having an affair with as well. hmm, supose that counts as well, yeah.
If you’d like to claim back your padlock, you can via the following websites.
http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/roadprojects/projects/south_eastern_region/sea_cliff_bridge/index.html
