The North Nowra resident tripped on loose footpath pavers at the northern end of Kinghorne Street last week. 

One ambulance trip, a broken finger and black eye later, Gail is hoping something can be done to prevent the same thing happening to someone else. 

“I was aware that they’re not in good condition so I wasn’t rushing but it still happened,” she said. 

“Whoever’s laid them or whoever has responsibility for them hasn’t done the right thing.”

Gail said it’s not the first time the pavers have presented a problem.

“Everyone who stopped to help said they’ve done it before, especially when the trolley wheels get stuck- you can hear the pavers click- clacking from across the road,” she said. 

“It’s really stuffed up my Christmas and for what we pay for our rates, we don’t even get a decent footpath.

“I just want other people to be aware and to speak out if the same thing happens to them.” 

While she said it was an unpleasant experience, Gail thanked everyone who came to her assistance, including the young boys, shop assistants and paramedics. 

Shoalhaven City Council Works and Services manager Tony Fraser said the larger pavers in that location had been an issue since they were laid.

“They haven’t set properly so they have been problematic since they were laid,” Mr Fraser said.

“Council is aware of the paving issues in that location and will undertake maintenance work as required.”

Mr Fraser said redoing the entire area in one go isn’t currently an option. 

“Ripping it up and doing it again would be a wholesale issue and the funding isn’t there for it at the moment. 

Mr Fraser encouraged anyone aware of a problem to report it. 

“We will look into the specific cause of the issue there and address it,” he said. 

“If anyone sees a problem with the footpaths they can notify council by phoning 4429 3111 or do so through our website.”

Gail said she’s concerned the problems won’t be fixed permanently. 

“It’s just a band-aid solution and it will happen to someone again,” she said.