Main Beach Nambucca Heads Seawall
COASTAL PROTECTION WALL/BLEACHERS – MAIN BEACH, NAMBUCCA HEADS
Council is delighted that the Seawall project at Main Beach, Nambucca Heads is now open to the public. An official opening ceremony with dignitaries was held on 20 May 2024. A link to the newspaper article published by News of the Area is:
https://www.newsofthearea.com.au/protective-seawall-and-bleachers-officially-opened-at-main-beach-nambucca-heads
The opening event marked the completion of a significant project for our community and visitors to our valley. The protection seawall construction was a great example of Nambucca Valley Council’s capacity to take on large construction projects inhouse. The seawall will provide coastal protection at this highly valued and popular community location in our area, and the greater region.
The $3.6 million upgrade was jointly funded by the Australian and NSW Government’s Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund, with works done by Council crews.
Council has received many letters of support and thanks, and we do appreciate all feedback from the community.
RECOMMENCEMENT OF WORKS - MAIN BEACH NAMBUCCA HEADS SEAWALL PROJECT - 15-February 2023
Construction of the coastal protection wall at Main Beach Nambucca Heads will recommence on Monday 27 February 2023.
Council’s Structures Team will commence re-establishing the seawall project site on Thursday 16 February 2023 with a small compound to be installed at the northern end of the carpark.
Public access to the bottom carpark will close for the duration of the works from 6.30am on Monday 27 February 2023, weather permitting. Variable Message Board (VMB) signage has been installed at the site on Monday 13 February to advertise the recommencement of works and security surveillance will be in use to deter vandalism and/or incidents at the site.
Partial closure of Main Beach will be required with temporary fencing installed to the low tide water height to secure the closed construction area. Works will then commence including a section of the vertical coastal protection wall prior to the pouring of the final concrete bleacher.
Council officers have liaised with representatives from the Nambucca Heads Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) regarding the recommencement of the project and access will remain open to SLSC facilities, a section of beach for scheduled water safety patrols, Nippers, and parking nearby. Clear access will be provided along the car park to the northern end of the beach with keys to the gate available to SLSC in case of an emergency callout to the northern end of the seawall works.
Key stakeholders including the Nambucca Heads Surf Life Saving Club and Reflections Caravan Park have been advised of the recommencement date. The project delivery team will continue to provide regular updates to the stakeholder email contact group.
MAIN BEACH NAMBUCCA HEADS – OPEN FOR PUBLIC ACCESS FROM 16 DECEMBER 2022
Council has reopened Main Beach Nambucca Heads for public access effective 16 December 2022.
Council’s Structures Team has achieved 65% completion of the bleacher wall, also known as stage one of the project, and construction of the adjacent footpath.
The bleacher wall was scheduled to be completed prior to the Christmas school holiday period, however project delays due to wet weather and large swells prevented meeting this deadline.
A minimal footprint of the Coastal Protection project site remains with a small fenced area and some additional temporary fencing installed.
The northern end of the carpark pedestrian access ramp will remain closed during the holiday period due to damage caused by large tidal surges.
MAIN BEACH NAMBUCCA HEADS SEAWALL PROJECT
Update as of 1 December 2022
Council’s Structures Team are finalising the current stage of works at Main Beach Nambucca Heads in preparation for reopening the site for the Christmas school holidays.
Council has achieved 65% completion of the bleacher wall, also known as stage one of the project, and anticipate completing construction of the adjacent footpath by 6 December 2022, weather permitting.
The bleacher wall was scheduled to be completed prior to the commencement of the Christmas school holiday period, however project delays due to wet weather and large swells prevented meeting this deadline.
The site will be decommissioned by Friday 16 December 2022 and a small fenced area will enclose the remainder of the stage one footprint.
Damage sustained to the northern end of the carpark pedestrian access area will necessitate its closure during the holiday period.
Council officers are currently liaising with the Surf Life Saving Club regarding works programmed for the Clubhouse building in the New Year. This may impact our return date however Council intend to recommence works at Main Beach in February, shortly after the school holidays are completed.
Once Main Beach and the surf club building is reopened for the Christmas school holiday period the hired temporary toilet located at Swimming Creek will be removed.
Coastal Protection Wall - Main Beach Nambucca Heads
Media Update
MAIN BEACH NAMBUCCA HEADS TO REMAIN CLOSED DURING SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 SCHOOL HOLIDAY PERIOD
Council has liaised with Nambucca Heads Surf Lifesaving Club (SLSC) regarding the continued closure of Main Beach through the September/October 2022 NSW school holidays. This will allow Council to progress works currently underway at the Seawall Coastal Protection Upgrade Project, and provide the best opportunity to complete the bleacher wall adjacent to the Surf Club building prior to the Christmas school holidays. Weather forecasts have predicted above normal rainfall in November, however it is expected that this stage of the project will be completed by the Christmas school holidays allowing the Main Beach precinct to open.
Due to the closure of Main Beach the SLSC will instead patrol Swimming Creek with temporary amenities provided and maintained by Council during patrol hours for the duration of the holiday period.
The Nambucca Valley Council has recently secured funding from the Australian and NSW governments under the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund to reconstruct a new coastal protection wall at Nambucca Heads’ Main Beach. The initiative aims to boost local economic stimulus recovery by generating tourism to the area.
Nambucca Valley Council staff will construct the $3.6 million project, which was designed by specialised coastal engineers from Royal Haskoning DHV. The completed project will include 180 metres of vertical wall incorporating 40 metres of bleacher steps, a new pedestrian footpath, two sets of beach stairs, two ramps, a beach shower and a viewing platform. The upgrade of the coastal protection wall will provide protection for Council’s assets and infrastructure.
NSW Deputy Premier and Minster for Regional NSW Paul Toole officially opened the construction site on 26 July 2022 during a sod turning ceremony. Also attending the event was Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience Steph Cooke, Member for Oxley Melinda Pavey and Nambucca Valley Council Mayor Rhonda Hoban.
The project construction schedule comprises of three stages with stage one including site establishment and construction of 40 metres of concrete bleachers, stage two including the vertical wall and viewing platform and stage three including resealing the carpark, construction of concrete paths and landscaping.
Access to Main Beach at Nambucca Heads was closed to the public in August 2022 to ensure safety of the community during construction. It is anticipated that stage 1 of the project will be completed by the 2022 Christmas holidays with the beach reopened to the public during the Christmas school holiday period.
Construction Commences
The construction methodology for stage 1 consists of excavating the sand down to the bedrock, socketing in piles to support the bleachers and then forming up and pouring the concrete bleachers.
The construction methodology for stage 2 consists of clearing temporary rock revetment and sand to find bedrock, demolishing the old carpark, core and grout stainless steel bars into the bedrock and then form and pour a vertical protection wall.
The construction methodology for stage 3 consists of earthworks and pavement works to reinstate the carpark, sealing of carpark, and construction of the concrete footpaths and landscaping.
Progress on the construction schedule was slowed due to a number of factors that include wet weather, large swells and tidal conditions resulting in sea and storm water inundation to the worksite.