Councillor John Church's request for independent engineering report into Newcastle Ocean Baths works rejected

Independent councillor John Church put up the motion on behalf of pool users concerned that concreting the base would jeopardise the sandy bottom, which is popular for wading. The natural rock bottom is being capped and the floor lifted in line with an elevation of the pool deck to counteract sea level rises.

Cr Church's motion originally called for "an independent and external engineers report, prior to construction commencing, into the decision to concrete the floor and its impact on the retention of a sandy floor".

However upon clarification from Labor councillor Declan Clausen, he asked to extend this to include: subject to peer review findings, more accurate quantification of wave runup, redirection and wave forces through a CFD model or physical model as well as an independent reassessment including cost/benefit analysis into the possible impacts of engineering works on water quality and amenity.

IN THE NEWS:

Lord mayor Nuatali Nelmes was critical of the late additions to the motion and the move to raise this issue after contracts had been unanimously awarded by the previous council.

She said there had been rigorous consultation with a community reference group, and there was a report with advice from engineers that the sandy floor would remain after the concreting.

Cr Church said he was raising it after further consultation with the community and the changes were about clarifying what the report would look like and its scope, to ensure council doesn't make a mistake "as we embark on one in 100 year decision" to upgrade the baths.

Council CEO Jeremy Bath said the requested reports would cost "several hundred thousand dollars" and there could be contract issues if the contractor was delayed in starting work, which is set to begin March 14.

Labor councillor Carol Duncan questioned the need for more independent reports when council had already contracted experts to lead the upgrade.

"You would think listening to some of the discussion tonight, that the City of Newcastle just makes stuff up and that we base decision on feels," she said.

Liberal councillor Katrina Wark put up an amendment calling for council to halt any installation of the concrete bottom until there is further consultation regarding the flooring.

She said she had received a lot of calls from concerned pool users about the concrete bottom, including rehabilitation specialists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists.

Cr Wark's amendment was only supported by herself and Cr Church.

Cr Clausen moved to follow a recommendation from the acting infrastructure and property director that removed the request for an independent engineering report, which was ultimately carried by a majority.

The successful motion included Cr Church's original request for council to continue lobbying the NSW government for the baths to state heritage listed.

Friends of Newcastle Ocean Baths member Tony Brown said the group was "bitterly disappointed" in council's decision. He said the group had made several attempts to address the new council before works commenced to no avail and believed council had "failed to meet its due diligence" on the project.

"We totally disagree there was adequate and appropriate consultation," he said.

The baths group will hold a public meeting on Friday morning to express their disappointment with the council's decision and the concreting of the natural rock shelf.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: