Nielsen Park: NSW Government appoints new contractor for Shark Beach seawall upgrade

Work on the long-delayed upgrade to the seawall at the popular Vaucluse swimming spot will resume next month, however it is unclear whether it will reopen in time for summer.

Shark Beach, Neilsen Park Vaucluse. Picture John Grainger.

A new company has been engaged to complete a major upgrade at a popular harbour beach, which has been closed more than a year, three months after the original contractor was dumped.

Cherrie Civil Engineering has been engaged to complete the replacement of the Nielsen Park seawall at Shark Beach, Vaucluse, a Department of Planning spokesman has confirmed.

After engineering problems hampered the initial construction, the spokesman said a detailed review and assessment of the construction “methodology and program” had been undertaken.

The review would “ensure the project can be completed as soon as possible and without compromising on safety or longevity of the seawall”.

The government contract was costed at $6,713,993 in 2022, however it is unclear how much has been paid to Delaney Civil – who had originally been contracted to complete the works.

The popular harbour beach has been closed since April 2022. Picture: John Grainger.

Shark Beach at Nielsen Park, Vaucluse. Picture: John Grainger.

The Department of Planning declined to reveal how much had been spent, however it said the rest of the works would be funded by the NSW Government’s Treasury Managed Fund insurance claim.

This is a self-insurance scheme created by the NSW Government to insure NSW government agency’s risk.

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has also updated the project’s timeline on its website, indicating construction will recommence next month with a new estimated completion date of February 2024.

The new completion date sets the project’s completion more than 13 months after its initial deadline.

Shark beach at Nielsen Park, in January 2023.

Shark beach at Nielsen Park in January 2023.

The project was delayed for a number of reasons, including contractor disputes, the discovery of asbestos beneath the wall, and heavy rain over the winter months, which caused widespread frustration from regular visitors locked out of the popular swimming spot.

The original contractor Delaney Civil was dumped by the state government in January after work at the site grinded to a halt over the Christmas period.

Delaney Civil previously indicated it could not comment for legal reasons, however some reports suggested engineering disagreements about elements of the seawall’s construction had been behind the delays. A Department spokesman also declined to say why it had been terminated.

Construction on the seawall began in April 2022 and by September, residents had begun raising concerns construction at the site had slowed with the Department of Planning soon changing the original reopening date of December 2022 to April 2023.

The masterplan for the project outlines upgraded ramps providing more accessibility to the beach along with improved and raised lawn areas and new trees.

Incoming Vaucluse MP Kellie Sloane shared the update via social media, where she acknowledged residents’ frustration and concern at the perceived management issues that had blown out the project’s timeline.

“I share those frustrations and I promised you as your new local member this would be my priority,” Ms Sloane said.