REPAIRS to the Prince Street sea wall at Cronulla will cost $1 million, said a Sutherland Shire Council report.
Since it was reconstructed in 2009 at a cost of $4.36 million, the sea wall has developed a number of defects that now need urgent attention.
Problems include erosion, gaps between contiguous piles, exposed concrete reinforcement and subsidence of the concrete units used in the construction of the sea wall.
There have been increasing reports that these "seabee" units are subsiding and affecting more locations along the sea wall.
Remedial works are now high priority to prevent further deterioration of the sea wall and possible public risk, said the council's consultants.
The council also has advice from its insurer, Statewide Mutual, on the public risk associated with the Prince Street sea wall, particularly with people climbing over it to get to the beach.
The insurer recommended the council take a number of actions, including erecting prominent warning signs along the sea wall and improving public access to the beach.
Suggested changes include extending the staircase from Prince Street down to the beach, revegetation of the embankment above the sea wall to reduce erosion and reinstating the access track at the southern end and access ramp at the northern end of the sea wall.
The council had several problems with the contractors during the reconstruction of the sea wall.
The subcontractor employed to install the ground anchors for the sea wall reported difficulties because of obstructions in the ground and claimed the information was not disclosed in the geotechnical reports.
The council at all times maintained that potential or likely obstructions were disclosed in the contract documents and refused to accept a claim for contract variations.
The council's position was supported by legal advice.
Community consultation must be carried out before remedial work and suggested improvements on the sea wall can start.
The council has submitted an application for a grant to the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage. If the grant is successful, the council will match the funding in the 2015-16 budget.
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