Nielsen Park: Shark Beach at Vaucluse reopening in limbo after government contract dumped

It’s set to be a long hot summer for residents in Sydney’s eastern suburbs as a major upgrade of one of the region’s most popular swimming spots is plagued with fresh delays.

A photo of the seawall upgrade, pictured in September.

The reopening of a popular Sydney Harbour swimming spot has been thrown into limbo after the lead contractor behind a seawall upgrade at the site was dumped by the State Government.

The Department of Planning has confirmed it has torn up its construction contract with Delaney Civil to rebuild the Nielsen Park seawall at Shark Beach in Vaucluse.

The upgrade was originally due to be completed by December and the delay has left local residents demanding clarity on a project that has closed a beloved beach for an entire summer.

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), the state organisation managing the upgrade, has accepted the project has hit a standstill but has not been able to confirm when the beach will reopen.

Plans to rebuild the seawall – which had been badly damaged by flooding in recent years – were revealed to the public in 2021, with a masterplan which outlined upgraded ramps providing more accessibility to the beach along with improved and raised lawn areas and new trees.

Shark Beach at Nielsen Park is a tourist and visitor location as well as a beloved local swimming spot

The beach was closed in March 2022 when Delaney Civil began work.

But the project has faced compounding delays.

Delays to the refurbishment have come about after asbestos was discovered beneath the wall, as well as the impact of wet weather conditions.

In September the Department of Planning updated signs around the site and its website from the original reopening date of December 2022 to April 2023.

Nielsen Park, pictured in September 2022

But in December, new reports suggested disagreements about the seawall’s construction between Delaney Civil and the National Parks and Wildlife Service were also behind the delays.

Now the $6,713,993 government contract has been dumped, it is unclear when the project will be completed.

A spokesman for the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) confirmed Delaney Civil no longer held the contract – and stated work will resume “when a new contractor is secured for the project.”

The spokesman declined to say why the contract had been terminated.

Shark beach at Nielsen Park in January 2023

“Maintenance work to protect the beachfront from coastal erosion is being carried out while NPWS seeks a new contractor to complete the works,” the spokesman said.

“NPWS will advise a revised forecast completion date once the new contract is awarded.”

The spokesman said the government agency was working to deliver “the best long-term outcome as soon as possible with the safety of the community at the forefront.”

The Wentworth Courier contacted Delaney Civil but the company declined to comment.

Bruce Bland, pictured at Nielsen Park.

Bruce Bland, a Rose Bay resident and leader of a 100-strong swimmers club which previously met at Nielsen Park described the delays as “unacceptable.”

“We checked the site regularly and even when it wasn’t raining there was nobody working there,” he said.

“Our opinion is it won’t be open until next summer at the best.”

Another resident, who asked not to be named, said it was clear to anyone who visited the park regularly that there was no chance it would reopen by April.

The status of the seawall upgrade at Shark beach as of January 2023

She said while construction delays on major projects are common, she was disappointed.

“When someone says this is the time frame for when construction is going to happen, you expect them to stick to that time frame,” she said.

“We need to have an action plan so next summer we can swim again.”

Independent candidate running for the seat of Vaucluse Karen Freyer said added costs could come from further delays.

Independent candidate Karen Freyer. Photo: Renee Nowytarger

“I don’t think it’s asking too much for residents to be told where we are in the process and why the original contractor is no longer working on the seawall upgrade.”

“It does seem ridiculous to close one of our area‘s most popular beaches with no end in sight.”

Vaucluse MP Gabrielle Upton was also contacted for comment.