A $700,000 project to restore the sea wall in Sandringham Bay was well timed.
Reinforcement of the structure with hundreds of big sandstone blocks was largely completed just before big seas battered the Botany Bay foreshore during the recent freak storm.
A spokesman for Rockdale Council said the contractor had advised that the wall had stood up well, and was not damaged.
Previous storms had washed away much of the old wall, creating an erosion danger to adjoining pine trees and luxury homes.
The council engaged the state agency Soil Conservation Services to undertake the project south of Lena Street.
The NSW Office of Environment and Heritage contributed $290,168 under the coastal management program.
Rockdale Council closed Sandringham baths after the storm because of the potential danger to swimmers from flotsam.
BOATS NOT SECURED
Dozens of boats broke their moorings during the storm.
Botany Bay water police co-ordinator Detective Senior Sergeant Brett Prentice said there were 31 reported boat incidents in Port Hacking and 12-15 in Botany Bay and the Georges River.
Vessels had ranged in size up to 65ft (19.8 metres) and 40 tonnes, and some had suffered considerable damage or had sunk.
‘‘Our message is that owners should be vigilant in servicing their moorings and securing their boats, particularly in periods of adverse weather,’’ he said.
■ What other lessons could we learn from the storm?
