Pool cliff face to be stabilised

Gosford Council will "upgrade" the Pearl Beach rock pool's cliff face at a cost of $180,000.

The cliff face has suffered some substantial rock fall in recent years, according to a council report.

The report stated that council contracted an external risk management report from Logov Risk Management Services.

The risk management report identified that the cliff face appeared unstable over a distance of about 50 metres and recommended council undertake engineering investigations into the stability of the rock face and rectification works necessary to make the area safe.

Council officers then engaged engineers Pells, Sullivan, Meynink engineering consultants to investigate the rock face.

These consulants deemed that falls of rocks of up to one metre in diameter were considered to be a moderate to high risk, while the risk of falls of larger rocks was low.

The consultants recommended three possible engineering solutions to prevent further rock fall at the site.

Council resolved to undertake the preferred option of applying a shotcrete membrane over the entire rock slope and a rock bolt reinforced concrete membrane in order to remove the risk of rock fall.

Funding for the project would be sourced at the time of the council's budget review.

The Pearl Beach rock pool was constructed in 1929 by excavating the natural rock shelf located at the southern end of the beach.

The pool received upgrades in the late 1950s and the mid-1980s.

The latest inspection in 2007 deemed the pool in need of another substantial upgrade.

The pool had high importance to the local community and was primarily used as a venue for recreational swimming, according to the council report.

The Umina Blue Swimmers Club has swum at the pool since 1969 with a current membership of 50 swimmers.

The pool has also been classified by the National Trust.

Council agenda SF.16, 6 May 2008