Work starts on sea wall facelift

WORK has started on a $650,000 project to replace the sea wall balustrade on Sandy Bay Rd between Wrest Point Casino and the Maning Avenue Reserve.

The new balustrade will be different to the existing structure because of a need to comply with Australian design standards.

A spokesman said a surface coating for the steel work had been selected and would be similar in look and feel to what is currently found on bridges.

Hobart City Council acting general manager Heather Salisbury said the balustrade was being replaced because of public safety concerns.

“This project has been flagged as a renewal project in the City of Hobart’s capital works program,” Ms Salisbury said.

The existing balustrade runs along the top of the sea wall parallel to Sandy Bay Rd south of the casino for about 360m.

“The sea wall [balustrade] is getting old and falling into disrepair, and needs to be replaced for public safety,” project manager Stephen Dickinson said.

“The new [balustrade] will be sturdier than the existing balustrade, and will be dark grey in colour.”

The council went through an internal design process, with advice from an external consultant, with the aim of achieving a robust design which would be suitable for more than 50 years with minimal ongoing maintenance costs.

The project was subject to an open public tender for the fabrication and installation of the new balustrade as well as the removal of the old fencing and reinstatement of any areas of the sea wall itself impacted by the works.

Macquarie Builders started work on Wednesday. It is expected the works will be finished by the end of September.

Sandy Bay Rd will not be closed but there may be minor disruptions to traffic.

Some parking spaces near the construction site will be unavailable but pedestrian access would be maintained along the footpath.

The steps leading to the beach between Wrest Point Casino and Maning Avenue Reserve would also be upgraded.