The reopening of one of Sydney’s favourite beaches is in jeopardy amid an engineering dispute between the government and the contractor that has stalled progress on the rebuild of the seawall.
Shark Beach, better known as Nielsen Park which surrounds it, has been closed since March for replacement of the 100-year-old seawall, which was badly damaged during storms in 2016.
The abandoned worksite at Shark Beach in Nielsen Park.Credit: James Brickwood
The beach, in Vaucluse in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, was supposed to reopen this summer but Sydney’s inclement weather this year delayed the finish until at least April next year.
Now the project has been hit with another problem: an engineering dispute between contractor Delaney Civil and the government’s National Parks and Wildlife Service, which manages the site.
A government source not authorised to speak publicly said the dispute related to the requirement for reinforced concrete pylons to be installed through the sand into the bedrock to support the new seawall, but they had no further knowledge.
The NPWS refused to be interviewed but in a written statement said it was “in discussions with the contractor in relation to delivery of key elements of the project”.
A busy Australia Day crowd at Nielsen Park in 2019. Credit: Jessica Hromas
“NPWS is seeking to ensure the project is delivered as soon as reasonably possible and in a manner that ensures the safety of the community,” the agency said.
Asked to provide more information about the dispute and whether the government had obtained or was seeking legal advice, the NPWS said it was “not in a position to comment further on contractual matters”. It would also not say when it expected the beach to reopen.
The NPWS is part of the NSW Department of Planning and Environment. Delaney Civil referred all questions to the government, and its founder and chairman Gerard Delaney did not respond to calls and text messages.
Vaucluse residents have noticed the beach construction site has been vacant for many weeks, aside from workers on a separate cafe renovation project. There were no seawall construction workers present when the Herald visited this week.
A nearby resident who did not want to be named said she had not seen workers at the site for two months, despite the improved weather.
“We can all understand weather delays but to take such an important public amenity offline and have a contractor dispute delay reopening indefinitely is next-level mismanagement,” she said.
Woollahra Mayor Susan Wynne, who represents the Vaucluse ward, also noted the lack of progress. “It doesn’t seem to be moving,” she said.
Wynne has previously warned the closure of Nielsen Park throughout the summer would put pressure on nearby harbour beaches such as Redleaf and Camp Cove.
On its website, the NPWS says the seawall reconstruction is a highly complex and challenging project. “We are taking great care to ensure this is carried out appropriately to ensure the best outcome for our community and the park’s natural and cultural values,” it says.
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