Austinmer pool work

Austinmer rock pools. Photo: http://www.cs.uow.edu.au

WOLLONGONG City Council plans to take advantage of some super low tides this month to complete major repair and refurbishment works to the southern rock pool at Austinmer.

Tide, sea and swell conditions have hampered access to the southern pool since work began in March this year, delaying the installation of precast concrete panels to the eastern wall.

However, low tides starting on 17 August are expected to create a favourable window of opportunity for night works.

Council’s Director of Infrastructure and Works, Mike Hyde, said night works would enable the contractor to install the pre-cast panels to the southern pool over the course of August 17 through to August 23 between midnight to 6am to take advantage of the very low tides, being less than 0.3m.

“To install the pre-cast panels safely and effectively these works must be carried out during low tide. During the past few months there has been little or no opportunity to install the panels due to large swells coinciding with daytime low tides.

“The next low tide period is from September 15 to September 21. Unfortunately these low tides are similar to the low tides in August in that they also occur at night.

“We acknowledge that night works are potentially disruptive to nearby residents but they will provide an opportunity to complete the project as soon as possible.

“The works will involve construction lighting known as ‘Daymakers’ being installed onsite to provide adequate light to the rock pool. An excavator will be used to install the pre-cast panels and some hand drilling will occur to hold the panels in place.”

These works are subject to tide, sea and swell conditions.

For more information you can contact Council’s Customer Service on (02) 4227 7111 or visit www.wollongong.nsw.gov.au