The swell has once again closed a window for work on the Austinmer ocean pool, with contractor Affective Services forced to abandon an attempt to install seven-tonne concrete cappings on Wednesday.
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Low tide was forcecast to coincide with low swell and allowed the installation of some reinforcement on the southern pool’s eastern wall, but when the swell picked up and conditions became too rough, it was time to pack up.
The next possible tide conditions are forecast to come about mid-April.
“Along the rear wall approximately 50 reo bars have been installed,” a Wollongong City Council spokeswoman said.
“However, the seas and swells [on Wednesday] proved too strong for the contractor to safely crane the seven-tonne concrete wall cappings into place.
“If the forecast low tides for around April 16 are joined by low seas and swell the wall capping will be lowered down over the bars and secured into place.
“In the meantime, the reo bars at the back wall of the pool have been made safe until the contractor returns to site (in April). We thank the community for their ongoing patience with this project.”
Council estimates the cost of the job to be $1.7 million. When the project started in 2014, the tender was for $700,000.