Austinmer Pool reopening suffers further delay

Closed for repairs since June, the reopening of Wollongong's popular Austinmer Pool has been delayed.

Wollongong City Council have advised that only one of the two popular ocean pools at Austinmer will re-open in time for Christmas.

Both pools were due to be repaired by the end of November, but now it appears that only the northern or toddler's pool will open in time for the peak summer period.

According to report by the ABC, Wollongong Council City Director of Infrastructure and Works Mike Hyde won't put a price on the extra work required, but says the contractors are doing the best they can under the circumstances.

Hyde says the concrete used to rebuilt the sea wall keeps getting washed away by the waves, so a new technique may be required, statinf "one of the challenges that we face is that we liken it to trying to pour concrete in the Kiama blowhole.

"The moment you put any material in there it just gets washed away so you've got a very small window.

"We've got to look at a technique which will probably involve importing significant major rock ballast to try and protect what they lay or pour and then they will only pour at certain times when the tide is very very low."

Hyde was unable to say when the second southern pool used by lap swimmers will reopen.

9th May 2013 - WOLLONGONG CITY COUNCIL SUBSIDISES PUBLIC POOLS BY $3.5 MILLION A YEAR