The upgraded Dix’s Wharf recreational area. Photo: Department of Planning and Environment.
The NSW Government has completed upgrades valued at almost $1 million of two public jetty facilities at Lake Illawarra.
Work has been carried out at Dix’s Wharf at Lake Heights and two public jetties have also been upgraded at the popular Kanahooka Boat Ramp.
GPM Marine Constructions was contracted by Crown Lands to undertake an $814,863 upgrade of Dix’s Wharf, which involved a complete replacement of the timber structure including installation of a non-slip fibre mesh walkway.
A new public access path has also been constructed for better access to the boat ramp and water, and new bench seats have been installed in an adjoining parkland grassed area.
During the community consultation phase, Crown Lands proposed three options for the upgrade as 95 per cent of responses called for the jetty to be retained and repaired in its current form.
In a separate Crown Lands project, the two public jetties at Kanahooka Boat Ramp have undergone more than $138,073 worth of upgrades at Kanahooka Park to bring them up to modern standards.
The eastern and western jetties have been upgraded with their timber decks replaced with durable non-slip mesh.
The boat ramp, pedestrian path and fish cleaning facilities have been retained as part of the upgrades which were contracted to the Soil Conservation Service.
Following community consultation, in November 2021, Crown Lands announced proposed works at the Kanahooka Boat Ramp would include repairing the western jetty and replacing the eastern jetty with a floating pontoon, however, during the design phase, engineers reviewed the tidal variance and determined that the benefit of a floating pontoon would be limited.
As the design work progressed, it was also identified that the nominated design was going to be more costly due to an increase in building costs and site and engineering constraints, so the idea was scrapped.
Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said Lake Illawarra was a key recreational and tourism asset for Wollongong, and the improvements to community jetties were a “positive for the Illawarra region”.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, and Member for Wollongong Paul Scully said he was pleased to see the projects delivered.
“I’ve long advocated for the upgrades to Dix’s Wharf and Kanahooka Boat Ramp jetties,” he said.
“The upgraded jetties will be a welcome addition to amenities around Lake Illawarra come the summer months for both local residents and visitors to the region alike.
“These upgrades are the latest in a long list of upgrades to jetties around Lake Illawarra to make these facilities safe and contemporary for residents and visitors so that everyone can enjoy the wonderful asset that the lake is for our region.”
The jetty improvements, in line with preferred community options following public consultations, follow previous Crown Lands upgrades of jetties at Old Merinda Wharf at Warrawong, Tuggerah Bay Jetty at Berkeley, Koonawarra Bay jetties at Warrawong, and Purry Burry Jetty at Primbee.
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