Nielsen Park Seawall October Update
Published 31 October 2024
The below is an update from National Parks and Wildlife Services that are managing this project.
October 2024 update
Progress
Concrete pours to all major elements of the project have now been completed by the contractor including the seawall structure and bleachers along the length of Shark Beach. Recent favourable weather has enabled these concrete works to progress as scheduled.
The raised planter boxes along the length of the promenade are near complete, including readying the new areas for landscaping by the contactor. The final delivery of mature trees has been completed and planting of these trees is underway. The species being planted are Sydney red gums (Angophora costata), tuckeroos (Cupaniopsis anacardioides), coastal banksia (Banksia integrifolia) and Port Jackson mallee (Eucalyptus obstans). These new trees will provide shade along the lawn terrace and seating areas.
At the eastern end of the seawall the accessible pedestrian ramp has been completed by the contractor with the vehicle ramp to be completed shortly.
Finishing works to the western section are nearing completion, with installation of the final items underway including stair treads, handrails, and soft landscaping.
Surface repairs to the concrete bleachers by the contractor have taken longer than anticipated. Several test areas were prepared using different patching methods to find the most suitable approach. The final repair method has produced a high level of finish comparable to the rest of the project. Unfortunately, the required testing and rework has caused an additional 3-week delay to the works program. This latest delay is very frustrating, but necessary to ensure the works are completed to a high standard.
The last major milestone will be the removal of the sheet pile wall which has separated the site from the harbour and protected the works area from the tide and waves. A barge will deliver an excavator to site to remove the temporary wall sections piece by piece. This work is scheduled to occur over 2 weeks during early November, pending weather and coastal conditions. For safety reasons, there is no visitor access to the beach until this work is complete.
The completion of the remedial patching works has pushed back the opening date until late November, pending weather and coastal conditions. We are working hard to complete this project and reopen Shark Beach.
We will continue to provide updates as works progress. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service is also providing weekly photo updates via the project webpage:
How will the beach look
Once the contractor removes the sheet pile wall the natural sand will be replenished along the beach by normal wave actions. The beach sand level will vary with time but will typically cover one or 2 of the lower bleacher levels, creating a wider beach than is currently visible on the site and reducing the visible height of the seawall structure.
The new structure has been constructed to a deeper depth than the old seawall to better resist storm damage and withstand future scour events over its 100-year design life.
Visitor access
Shark Beach will remain closed to visitors until the completion of the project. In the interest of everyone’s safety, we kindly request that all visitors refrain from entering the construction site, be it through fencing or water. This area is not safe for visitors.
We appreciate and understand that the project delays are very frustrating, but we are committed to delivering the project to specification so that this public infrastructure meets its design life of 100 years. All parties involved are working hard to achieve overall completion as soon as possible.
More information
Please refer to the project webpage for the latest information, regularly updated as information becomes available. Questions and comments are welcome, and anyone can sign up to receive these updates. Just complete the online form on the project webpage:
