Piles of yellow sand along the city’s eastern foreshore have caught the attention of Mandurah’s curious passersby in the past few weeks.
The mounds of sand are part of the foreshore redevelopment aimed at substituting the existing seawall which is in a state of decay with a brand new two-level wall.
The works started in late May and are scheduled for completion by the end of the year.
City of Mandurah chief Mark Newman said the works were progressing according to schedule, however, they had been interrupted to allow for the existing sand mounds along the foreshore to settle properly.
“No works will be taking place during this settling period,” he said.
“This is a crucial and planned stage of the works.
“The sand ‘bund’ will be left to settle for around six to eight weeks to allow the underlying layers to consolidate, therefore improving the longevity of the foundations of the new seawall.”
Mr Newman said the time frame could be shorter or longer depending on how fast the sand settled.
The City will monitor the process thoroughly to ensure it is completely settled.
Once the sand is in place, it will be leveled down to the same height as the original foreshore path and a brand new path will be constructed.
The next phase in the foreshore facelift will be the construction of a limestone block seawall that will protect the area from storm surges and will emulate the curved shape of the Waugal serpent.
“The design includes a two-level limestone construction that provides protection against storm surges, and retains the existing connectivity to the water,” Mr Newman said.
The new wall will have a length of 550m and it will extend from the foreshore into the estuary to allow for more recreation facilities, paths and seats. The City of Mandurah hoped the much-needed new eastern foreshore wall would enhance the area and attract both locals and visitors.
For more information about the project, go to www.haveyoursaymandurah.com.au.