Built from timber and back-filled with construction rubble, a sea wall that “should never have been” was pulled down this week.
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“It’s the kind of wall you would normally see at a golf course,” Cr John Nell said.
“They’re useless in a marine environment.”
The wall was built in the 90s at Kangaroo Point as part of a residential development behind Soldiers Point Road.
From their backyards residents could walk down across the manicured grass to water’s edge below.
After nearly 20 years the wall gave way in a storm last winter.
“The design of them maximises the impact of the waves,” Cr Nell said.
“The crashing waves have eroded the sand at the base of the wall to the point where it collapsed. The whole thing has been a debacle, even getting it replaced.”
The council and Marine Parks have spent the past six months in discussions on the project.
“Time has been taken to make sure we have the right design and approvals so that we get the best outcome for the environment,” the council's asset section manager John Maretich said.
“Works will cost between $25,000 to $30,000 and will include removal of the vertical wall and replacement with a tapered slope.
“This design reduces erosion by allowing the waves to run up the slope so that the wave energy dissipates.”
Whether the wall complied with environmental and building regulations at the time remains unclear but there’s no doubt it had to go.
The seawall is past its use-by date and not up to modern standards – both the design and materials would not meet current requirements.
“The wall has been there for such a long time, it is hard to attribute liability to the original builder,” Mr Maretich said.
“But it’s certainly past its use-by date and not up to modern standards – both the design and materials would not meet current requirements.”
Cr Nell said the replacement ought to do a much better job but he’s not convinced residents have seen the last of their troubles.
“My expectation is it’s really going to need rocks to slow down the waves,” he said.
“Council’s going to try without them but I think its really going to need them.”
The council said routine inspections were part of it’s asset maintenance program with funds allocated for maintenance and upgrades prioritised to the level of risk and available budget.
