Wollongong City Council is moving forward on the second stage of works on the seawall at North Wollongong Beach.
Once complete, the new seawall will connect to the existing Emma McKeon AM Promenade and provide stepped access and an accessible ramp onto the popular beach while also offering robust protection to the foreshore area.
"We saw just a few weeks ago how large seas can impact on our foreshore areas, including North Wollongong Beach,'' Lord Mayor of Wollongong Councillor Tania Brown said.
"When those large seas hit, we had water right up to the Stage 1 seawall, with large powerful waves also impacting the existing crib wall running along the grassed area between the Surf Club and North Beach Bathers Pavilion, which was never designed to resist these forces. It was a timely reminder of just how important this structure will be to protecting this much-loved space from large seas and swells.''
The design for the stage two works features concrete bleachers with stairs linking the promenade to the beach. An accessible beach ramp, with an additional viewing area near the North Beach Bathers Pavilion building which will provide improved access for the whole community to the sand and foreshore.
The project involves:
- The construction of a reinforced concrete seawall
- Installation of a pedestrian promenade, new stairways and accessible pathways, and pavement construction
- Upgrades to lighting and electrical services
- Landscaping including planting and turfing, installation of street furniture and stormwater drainage improvements
Coinciding with the seawall project are works to the 1930s kiosk building which needs some essential maintenance and external repairs including brick repointing, repairs to the awning extension, and improvements to site drainage and weatherproofing of the building.
The nearby Pavilion building will also receive some minor structural repairs, cleaning of the external facades to provide the finishing touches to the precinct. These works are aligned to Our Asset Plan to maintain and renew community assets so that they continue to provide service into the future.
"We're grateful to the NSW Government who, along with Council, have funded some essential repairs to both the kiosk and pavilion buildings,'' Cr Brown said.
"Both of these buildings have heritage significance and they're a key part of this precinct's history. By carrying out these repairs now, we're preserving them for generations to come.''
The Bathers Pavilion will remain open during the project, while the kiosk building and associated café will be closed.
While the work is underway, Council's lifeguards and volunteer lifesavers will continue to patrol North Wollongong Beach, as normal.
The beach is patrolled year-around, although there are adjustments to the patrol hours over the winter months.
"During the project, we'll be maintaining access to the beach. We'll be asking people to step down onto the sand from the promenade that was completed in the first stage of works or from in front of the Bathers Pavilion,'' Cr Brown said.
Stage 2 works are expected to be completed by mid-2027.
Member for Wollongong Paul Scully said he was pleased to see the project get underway.
"The Minns Government has provided more than $3.9 million to Wollongong City Council to complete the construction of the North Wollongong Beach Seawall.
"Grants like this one support coastal councils manage the coast environment in NSW for the social, cultural and economic well-being of our city and the state.
"Managing our coastal environment is an ongoing challenge and I will continue to work with Wollongong City Council on other parts of the kilometres of local coastline that we are so proud of."
The Stage 1 and Stage 2 seawall works were supported by technical and financial assistance from the NSW Government's Coastal and Estuary Management Program.
