Shark Beach has been closed since March 2022 and the closure has angered locals.
Construction was meant to be completed by December 2022.
The beach will now reopen by mid-December.

One of Sydney’s most loved beaches, which has been closed since March 2022 is slated to reopen in December.

Shark Beach in the Eastern Suburbs has long been a favourite swimming spot but its closure and reopening delay has angered locals, after years of delay.

The closure was due to construction to replace a seawall but the long drawn-out process was delayed again after the NSW Parks and Wildlife Service found defects in the concrete stairs.

Reconstruction work was originally meant to be completed by December 2022 – but the wettest Sydney year on record, contractual delays, and the discovery (and removal) of 3,600 tonnes of asbestos put big delays in progress.

According to the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) which has been managing the Neilsen Park seawall repair, the re-opening date could still be subject to further delays depending on weather and coastal conditions.

A NPWS spokesperson said the expected completion date for the Nielsen Park seawall had been revised to a later date.

“Unforeseen construction challenges associated with the vehicle and pedestrian ramps at the eastern end of the seawall have slowed progress,” they said.

The NPWS said it had identified defects in the finish of some sections, that do not affect the integrity of the seawall structure.

“The contractor is also undertaking remedial patching of the concrete bleachers, mid-level terrace, and promenade slabs after the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) identified defects in the finish.”

It said the remediation would be completed by the contractor at their own cost.