Manly Cove: Push for historic boardwalk and pool to be reinstated has resurfaced

For more than 40 years it attracted thousands of visitors before being destroyed by a storm. Now a push to rebuild a historic Harbour boardwalk and pool has resurfaced.

A bold bid to return a historic harbour boardwalk and giant ocean pool at the gateway to the northern beaches has resurfaced.

Supporters of the multimillion-dollar proposal are pushing for the walkway to stretch from Manly Wharf, across the western side of Manly Cove, to the historic swimming Pavilion on Federation Point.

The original much-loved boardwalk, built in 1931 and featuring diving “towers of death”, slippery slides and swimming pontoons, was destroyed by a huge storm in 1974.

The old Manly harbour pool and boardwalk along West Esplanade, in Manly Cove. Picture: Northern Beaches Library

Now Northern Beaches deputy mayor Candy Bingham says the decision by the NSW Government to demolish the abandoned Sea Life Aquarium building was the perfect opportunity to revisit the boardwalk plan.

Transport for NSW, which owns the property accommodating the dilapidated aquarium, wants to bulldoze it and use the site as a public plaza with a new jetty.

The council, as part of its Manly West Esplanade Heritage Activation Plan, also wanted the aquarium knocked down.

The draft Manly Harbour Pool Design Concept plan. Picture: Supplied

In her motion put before Tuesday’s night’s council meeting, Ms Bingham is calling on the council to meet with Transport for NSW about its plans for West Esplanade and Manly Cove.

Ms Bingham, who has been championing the plan for 10 years, also wants the council to consider the possible reinstatement of a boardwalk.

The promenade that enclosed the harbour pool at Manly before it was destroyed during a storm in 1974. Picture: Northern Beaches Library

An engineering company, employed by council to assess the feasibility of the work, has stated it will cost an estimated $14m to build.

A private draft boardwalk environmental design has already been created.

Ms Bingham pointed out that in a Transport for NSW community consultation report into its plans for Manly Cove, released last month, many people brought up the idea of reinstating the boardwalk.

The Manly harbour pool attracted huge crowds. Picture: Northern Beaches Library

The diving towers were a challenge. They are not included in the new draft plan. Picture: Northern Beaches Library

The pontoons would not be included in the new proposal. Picture: Northern beaches Library

Manly Harbour Pool in about 1932. Picture: Northern Beaches Library

The slippery dips into Manly harbour pool. Picture: Northern Beaches Library

“Now that the government has announced the aquarium is going, it’s an opportunity for us to restart the conversation about whether a boardwalk and a harbour pool would be appropriate in that area now.

“I believe it will.”

Ms Bingham said that as well as protecting sensitive seagrass beds from boat anchors, the larger pool would have openings at both ends of the beach to allow kayaks and dinghys enter and leave the area.

The Manly harbour pool after the storm in May 1974. Picture: Manly Daily

“This motion, if passed would allow for a proper environmental study for the area and what would be involved in doing extensive community consultation on whether the boardwalk should be reinstated.”

The buckled Manly harbour boardwalk after the 1974 storm. Picture: Manly Daily

Ms Bingham said a new timber boardwalk would not have diving towers or slippery dips.”