Work to rebuild the storm-damaged heritage seawall at Wollongong’s Flagstaff Hill will be a painstaking process, an architect’s report into the project has revealed.
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The NSW Department of Industry (Crown Lands) is currently assessing tenders from contractors vying to repair and restore the broken seaside structure, which was smashed to pieces by a king tide almost two years ago.
Expressions of interest for the work closed on March 1 and the successful tenderer is expected to be revealed by the end of this month, the Mercury understands.
The heritage-listed wall, which spans a length of about 215 metres and is up to 3.6 metres high, was built by convicts in the 1880s.
Stones, mortar fill, and rubble and concrete capping that formed part of the overall structure were washed onto the ground during the 2016 storm event.
To this day, stones of all shapes and sizes have remained scattered across the ground.
An architect’s report included as part of the tender process has identified each of the hundreds of dislodged stones by number, given each of them a “face” and has also assessed their suitability to be relaid in the wall.
“Dislodged stones, capable of being reinstated, have been left in situ and/or moved to the side,” the report, by Newtown-based architect Jean Rice, said.
“Many of these are to be returned to the wall and are now laying ‘in order’ and close to their original location.
“Where their face is visible and they can be identified a number has been painted on the stone (on a face that will be concealed) indicating their former location on the wall.”
Dislodged stones from the south side of the wall have been numbered using red paint, while those on the opposite side are identified by blue numbers.
Black markings depict stones requiring further investigation.
The report said stones “laying on their face” would need to be turned in order to be identified and numbered. Others had not been located.
Stones unable to be relaid could be cut down to a smaller size for reuse or used in other parts of the wall, the report suggested.
Rubble and detached concrete would be removed.
Andrew Pearson
Andrew grew up in the western Riverina town of Hay and has strong ties to the region. He is a former DA journo who has a passion for breaking news and has covered everything from council and politics to crime and court.
Andrew grew up in the western Riverina town of Hay and has strong ties to the region. He is a former DA journo who has a passion for breaking news and has covered everything from council and politics to crime and court.
