Manly set to get permanent beach seats implemented into the stormwater drain at South Steyne
Public seating on Manly Beach has been proposed as part of upgrades — but is it a good idea?
Manly
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PUBLIC seating on Manly Beach has been proposed as part of stormwater pipe upgrades near the Life Saving Club.
Northern Beaches Council is proposing to repair the degraded infrastructure, and is seeking community feedback on the designs.
Deputy Mayor Candy Bingham said the old pipe was badly degraded with multiple cracks and holes visible along its length and urgently in need of repair.
“Council recognises that the area is widely used as a makeshift seating area, anyway, but is taking the opportunity to improve the surrounding amenity to all recreational users of Manly Beach by incorporating more seating surfaces,” she said.
“The proposed seating — complete with suitable stepped access — will fully encase the pipe and so further improve beach amenity while also protecting the repaired stormwater pipe from future damage.
“The pipe needs to be encased to protect it from coastal storms, but the plan is to go one step further — and adapt the concrete shell for use as open-air seating.”
The council’s planning staff hope to begin lining the pipe, repairing it and then encasing it in a contoured sandstone coloured concrete shell so the pipe blends in with the surrounding environment and seawall.
The work is planned to be undertaken between September and November this year.
The council is seeking community comment on the proposal — and in particular the seating idea.
During the work period from September to November, access to the area close to the seawall will be restricted.
It comes as the council considers options for an upgrade to the Life Saving Club at Manly, which is the subject of a report due back in four months.
You can view the proposal and submit your comments at northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au