Wollongong City Council lifeguard Phil Crowder at Coledale Beach. Picture: ORLANDO CHIODO
Coledale Beach is set to become home to a new, permanent lifeguard facility.
Wollongong City Council is this evening expected to award a tender to build the new amenities, which include an elevated lookout post, to Berkeley-based civil engineering company Deane Constructions.
The tender is worth almost $200,000.
The need for a new building was identified during a review of the Coledale Beach Reserve management plan last year and councillors agreed to fund the project in this year's financial budget.
The new facility will be a single-storey elevated building in the same spot as the former boatshed.
A previous report to the council on the matter said the structure will sit further west than the current, temporary lookout being used by lifesavers and lifeguards, and is expected to be up to 1.25 metres higher to allow for clear views up and down the beach.
The facility will also have a shower and toilet.
A report to be put to councillors this evening says two submissions were received in response to the tender and both have been scrutinised by the council's in-house tender assessment panel.
The group concluded the submission from Deane Constructions represented the best value to the council.
"The construction of this new facility at Coledale Beach is an important step in the programmed upgrade of lifeguard facilities for our 17 patrolled beaches," the council report said.
"The provision of suitable lifeguard facilities to provide good sight lines and access to bathing areas is a key infrastructure strategy to support beach patrols.
"Deane Construction has submitted an acceptable tender to carry out the construction [and] should be engaged to deliver this facility."