Maintenance will begin on one of the wall panels around Thirroul’s popular saltwater pool this week ahead of the pool’s planned reopening on Saturday.
The project will see the removal and replacement of one of the exterior wall panels on the pool’s eastern side.
The panel, on the eastern side next to the showers and lifeguard facilities, was secured last season with a reinforcing beam and structural plywood as a precaution after cracks appeared in the brick panel’s render. It’s believed the cracks are the result of movement of sand under the concourse and this has reduced the wall’s structural integrity at this spot.
“This wall is believed to have been built over 40 years ago and is a significant part of the look and feel, and the social fabric of this precinct,” Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said.
“As part of the work, there will be a like-for-like replacement with what is currently here and this will preserve the historic value of this location.”
Council’s heritage team have reviewed the plans, and the project is expected to take about six weeks to complete. The project includes the demolition of a section of the brick wall and concourse, the installation of piles and new footings for the brick wall section and the replacement of the concourse and brick wall.
The repairs are the latest phase of work in the Thirroul precinct, which are all due to be finished by the busy summer months. The other projects underway or completed include repairs and maintenance to the pools including the replacement of 150 broken pool tiles, repairs to the expansion joints, the re-grouting of the main pool and the application of a non-slip coating for the toddler’s pool ramp.
In addition we’ve recently re-lined the pools’ outlet pipes under the concourse within the pool precinct, and work continues on the replacement of the pools’ aged intake pipe at the southern end of Thirroul Beach. The intake pipes on the beach date back to World War II.
“The pipes on the southern end of the beach run some 70 metres out to sea and are used to draw in the fresh saltwater for the pool. The ones that were there last summer were more than 75 years old and well due for an upgrade,” Cr Bradbery said.
“While work will continue in this precinct for the rest of spring, we’re working hard to reopen the pool on Saturday 19 October. This week the last segment of the intake lines will be installed and testing of the pumping equipment will begin.
“We know Thirroul is a much loved beach by locals and a popular daytripping location for people from across the Illawarra and further afield. These upgrades will ensure the precinct is in tip-top working order for the summer months.”
The work on the panel and the promenade will be carried out on between 7am and 6pm, Monday-Saturday.
The is scheduled to reopen on Saturday 19 October, and will remain open while the work on the promenade, wall and intake lines is completed.
