November has been a month when northern suburbs residents have for once enjoyed the sight of earthmoving equipment taking over the Austinmer ocean pool.
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While most seaside residents would not be pleased at such a sight, for Austinmer, Thirroul and Coledale swimmers it has meant that the refurbishment job may finally be drawing towards their end.
With a series of particularly low tides this month and last, the council’s contractor has been able to string more than 20 days together with work being done – likely the most productive period in the almost 18 months since the job started.
Both the northern and the southern pool will be open for most of the Christmas period, council’s director of infrastructure and works Mike Hyde said.
“There have been some favourable tide, sea and swell conditions over the past two months providing 23 days where the contractor was able to go in and complete repair works to the ageing northern rock pool,” Mr Hyde said. “Works on the northern pool are almost complete with all six panels now in place against the sea-side wall of the pool. Each of the panels weighed five tonnes and had to be craned into place.
“The capping works on the sea-side wall of the northern pool is almost complete.”
Mr Hyde said there could be more work done before Christmas, seas permitting.
“Tidal charts predict there will be seven days between now and Christmas when this work – provided the sea and swell are also low – may be possible,” he said.
“If the favourable tide, sea and swell conditions continue, council anticipates works on the northern pool will be completed by Christmas. Once this work has been finished, the northern pool will remain open unless there is a risk to public safety while works are being carried out in the southern pool in 2016.
“Both pools will remain open during Christmas and New Year with work set to resume in early 2016.”
Mr Hyde said it was not possible now to estimate how much the job would end up costing ratepayers.
The job was first estimated to be finished around September 2014. Affective was called in after the first contractor, Specialised Marine Services, went into liquidation after being more than $500,000 but not getting near completing the job.
“We will need to return to the rock pools next year to carry out works on the southern pool,” Mr Hyde said.
“We will be using the same process of pre-cast panels on the sea-side wall of the southern pool to repair the failing rear wall. Capping works to the rear wall will also need to be completed.
“We thank the community for their patience as we work to repair the pools. This is a challenging work environment and relies on weather conditions that are beyond council’s control.”
