WORK to stabilise and restore Kiama’s leaning memorial arch in Hindmarsh Park has begun.
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Kiama Municipal Council is hopeful the $265,000 project will be completed by the end of October in time for Remembrance Day.
The Kiama arch was officially unveiled on April 25, 1925, by then NSW premier Sir George Fuller, who was born in Kiama.
Concerns about the tilting arch were raised by the Kiama-Jamberoo RSL sub-branch in 2012, but the lean has been traced back to 1953.
Kiama council said that despite a lean of two degrees, the 200-tonne structure was ‘‘sound and intact’’.
However, investigations identified that the arch was built on uncontrolled fill, about six metres deep, in an area that used to be Kiama’s tip.
During the work 17 micro piles up to 16 metres long will be installed by contractor Pan Civil to prevent the arch from leaning any further.
Four-metre wide platforms will also be installed either side of the arch to accommodate seating on special occasions.
The total contract amount is $265,485 with the state government contributing $30,000 and the federal government $16,500.
A separate contractor Rightline Infrastructure has also be engaged to construct a new stormwater pipe across Collins Street on western side of Terralong Street.