Clifton Springs ocean sculpture project facing fresh delays, two years after original opening date

Geelong council’s repeatedly-delayed ocean sculpture project is once again behind schedule, more than two years after it was originally due to be opened, and despite the $200,000 price tag.

Geelong council’s repeatedly-delayed ocean sculpture project is once again behind schedule, more than two years after it was originally due to be opened, and despite the $200,000 price tag.

The city’s ongoing struggle to deliver a ‘sculptural wave attenuator’ at The Dell in Clifton Springs – previously pitched as a ‘sunken gallery’ opening in summer 2019/20 – appears to have been hit by fresh delays.

The new version of the project was announced by the city in January, with the first $30,000 stage of the project aimed to be installed in Autumn. But, nine months later there is no sign of the “clever and creative” project.

City of Greater Geelong city services director Heath Chasemore said the city was currently “progressing permit formalities” for the eco reef project.

wave sculptures

“The project timelines were impacted early on by COVID-19 restrictions and we are now awaiting a final works permit from Parks Victoria and confirmation from the Department of Environment Land Water and Planning that we have met all the conditions of our Marine and Coastal consent to ensure this sensitive coastal environment is protected,” Mr Chasemore said.

“Once the relevant approvals are in place, the City will conduct a procurement process for the installation of the Eco Reef modules.

“We are working towards installing the Reef modules by mid-2022.”

In January the city announced it had shelved it’s ‘sunken gallery’ project a year after the eco-tourism attraction was set to open, with little explanation as to why the project and it’s $500,000 funding allocation had been ditched.

The city announced it would instead build a ‘sculptural wave attenuator’ – a series of modular reef units from Reef Design Lab, which would create new habitats for marine life while also reducing wave energy into the Dell to help reduce erosion.

The first stage of the project would install six of the units in Autumn at a cost of about $30,000, the city said. The project would have a total funding allocation of $200,000, with further units to be added if the first stage was deemed a success.

The city in January revealed it had already received “consent under the Marine and Coastal Act” from the State Government to move ahead with the project.

Originally published as Clifton Springs ocean sculpture project facing fresh delays, two years after original opening date