Millions of heat-stricken Sydneysiders are unable to cool off at their local beach as construction of a new seawall is plagued with problems.
Shark Beach, known locally as Nielsen Park, in Vaucluse, east of the city, has been closed for almost three years, much to the chagrin of locals.
The popular swimming spot was scheduled to reopen in late November, but was recently rescheduled to mid-December.
The beach has been closed since 2022, when remediation work began on the 160-metre seawall after it was damaged by the 2016 floods.
“The beach remains scheduled to open in mid-December 2024,” a NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service spokesperson said. Daily Telegraph.
The spokesman said there had been “several significant unforeseen delays”, including rain, thousands of tonnes of asbestos, redesigns and contract disputes.
However, recent photographs of the beach have revealed that the boardwalk is not yet finished, meaning swimmers may have to wait until 2025 to take a dip.
Woollahra Council deputy mayor Sean Carmichael said locals are frustrated because they cannot cool off on the beach under the current heatwave conditions.
Residents are frustrated the beach has been unavailable as Sydney swelters under a heatwave (pictured, working on the boardwalk at Nielsen Beach earlier this year)
The iconic Shark Beach, known locally as Nielsen Park in Vaucluse, Sydney’s eastern suburbs, will open in mid-December (pictured swimmers in Bondi)
‘There has been tremendous disappointment that construction is still continuing. “People would like to use this beach but they can’t,” he said.
‘We all understand that projects like this can be complicated and complex, with unexpected problems arising and ongoing delays.
“But it does not seem that the federal government is enthusiastic and willing to deal with this issue, which in general terms is not that serious.”
NSW Parks and Wildlife planned to replace the seawall with a new barrier that would be reinforced to withstand the impact of strong wet weather and wave conditions.
But contract disputes, bad weather and the discovery of 3,600 tons of asbestos in the old wall have prolonged its construction and the closure of Nielsen Park.
Remediation work at Shark Beach also includes installing planters and planting mature trees to provide shade along the deck and seating areas.
In September, NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe told ABC Radio Sydney that construction at the popular swimming spot had taken too long.
‘I am one of the many swimmers who are impatiently awaiting the completion of this work. This is a project that I have inherited and it has taken me too long,’ he said.