Upgrade of Tidal Pool and Reserve – Alma Doepel Park, Mylestom

Project typeUpgrade
Project value$656,172.32
Project scheduleImplementation
Contractor nameSWF Construction Group Pty Ltd

Aerial view of the Mylestom Tidal Pool before upgrade

Mylestom Tidal Pool was severely impacted by Tropical Cyclone Alfred in March 2025 and the NSW East Coast Severe Weather event in May 2025.

To improve the pools resilience to future flood events and ensure long-term integrity and functionality, Council will be completing upgrades to the Tidal Pool, surrounding walkway and parts of Alma Doepel Park Reserve.

Funding

Bellingen Shire Council has received funding under the following programs for the upgrade:

Crown Reserves Improvement Funding (CRIF) 2023-24 Program: $246,575.00
Boating Infrastructure Emergency Repair Pool (BIERP) Program: $269,515.32
Bellingen Shire Council will contribute $140,082.00 to the project from Council’s S7.12 Developer Contribution.

Timeframe

Construction will start in October 2025, and work is anticipated to be complete in late December 2025 (weather permitting).

Project scope:

Work will be completed during Council’s standard construction hours from 7am to 5pm, Monday to Friday and Saturday from 7am to 1pm. Some out of hours work may occur on Saturday and Sunday for this project, residents will be notified before this work begins.

Work for the upgrade will include:

Cleaning of support piles and ladders from intertidal oyster and marine growth
Re-attachment of Northern access ladder to one of the piles
Removal of driftwood and other debris in and around the Tidal Pool
Replacement of entire shark net enclosure
Replacement of all stainless-steel bracings
Replacement of 5 marine piles (foundations placed in the riverbed to support the walkway structure) that have been damaged due to flooding caused by TC Alfred
Replacement of entire timber decking with fibreglass reinforced polymer (FRP) mesh decking with a heel-friendly mesh width of 6.8mm by 6.8mm
Replacement of all bench seats with new timber bench seats
Installation of new capping to all marine piles
Replacement and installation of new bollards within the Alma Doepel Reserve to formalise the reserve and to prevent further damage to the sensitive coastal environment
Installation of a debris boom (floating barrier) on the northern angled wall of the tidal pool, to assist in guiding debris such as driftwood past the netting.

Community Impacts

Pool Closure

The tidal pool will be fully closed to the public from early October 2025 and is anticipated to reopen in late December 2025 (weather permitting).

Noise Impacts

Nearby residents can expect moderate and consistent noise from the piling work which will be completed during the standard construction hours of 7am to 5pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 1pm on Saturday.

Scheduling of work

The Mylestom Tidal Pool Upgrade was originally scheduled for delivery during winter 2025. However, due to the impacts of Tropical Cyclone Alfred (March 2025) and the NSW East Coast Severe Weather event (May 2025), the scope of works had to be revised, and construction rescheduled to a later date in the year.

The project is funded through the Crown Reserves Improvement Fund (CRIF) 2023–24 Program and the Boating Infrastructure Emergency Repair Pool (BIERP) Program. Both grants have conditions that require the project to be completed by April 2026, which has also determined the revised timeline of the project.

In addition to the weather-related delays and grant conditions, repeated flooding has weakened the pool’s structure. To address this, the revised scope includes the installation of new piles, steel bracings, and a debris boom which are essential to have in place before the 2026 wet season, with the heaviest rainfall expected between January and April.

Council is expecting to complete the works by late December 2025. The project timeline aims to ensure the community can enjoy the pool during the summer holidays, while also meeting the requirements of the funding programs.