Wollongong City Council has welcomed $863,000 in funding from the Federal Government’s Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program (RCLIP) to assist in the refurbishment of the historic North Beach Bathers Pavilion precinct.
The Bathers Pavilion was built in 1938 and is in need of extensive repairs and improvements to return it to its former glory as an iconic landmark on Wollongong’s popular North Beach.
The site has been the subject of several controversial Development Applications in the past, and due to its heritage and local significance, Council has vowed to revamp the Pavilion Precinct and retain ownership of the building.
Administrator Robert McGregor AM said the Federal Government’s seed funding will allow Council to start work on a staged $12 million refurbishment of the Bathers Pavilion as early as February 2011.
“Council engaged award winning architects Conybeare Morrison to prepare designs to refurbish the Bathers Pavilion while maintaining its important heritage value. The community threw its support behind the plans, and a subsequent DA was approved in December 2009. Tenders have been recently called for the work,” Mr McGregor said.
“We hope to start work on the refurbishment in February with Council funds, and support from the Federal Government. However there are six stages of work that need to be completed, so Council will have to examine all funding opportunities to undertake the full scope of work in one continuous stage.”
“The first stage of the project will involve extensive work to repair the Pavilion and replace concrete slabs affected by concrete cancer. We will also construct an improved viewing deck and storage facilities for our lifeguards and volunteer lifesavers,” Administrator McGregor said.
“We will transform the northern wing of the Pavilion with new public amenities for the community, complete with toilets, showers, lockers, family friendly change rooms and facilities for people with a disability.”
“The project includes repairs and upgrades to the failed retaining wall adjacent to the Bathers Pavilion to refresh the entire look and feel of the North Beach precinct. The shared pathway behind the Pavilion will also be widened from 2.5 metres to more than 6 metres,” Mr McGregor said.
“We are working to identify further funds to create space for a new restaurant/café in the southern end of the building,” Mr McGregor said.
“We’ve also designed a three metre wide promenade to sweep across the front of the pavilion, overlooking the beach and reducing congestion on the popular shared pathway behind the Pavilion,” Mr McGregor said.
“The final stages of the project involve replacement of the retaining wall and shared pathway south of the Pavilion to link with Belmore Basin. Council will also replace the sea wall in front of the Pavilion to protect the site from sea level rise.”
“Council is extremely grateful to Sharon Bird and the Federal Government for their support which will allow work to commence the Bathers Pavilion refurbishment,” he added.