Work begins to replace exposed sewer pipe

Work has begun to replace a sewer pipe in Cullendulla Creek Nature Reserve that becomes periodically exposed due to coastal erosion.

Eurobodalla Council laid the pipe to service Long Beach in the mid-1980s in what was then heavily-treed, low-lying land, 15 metres back from the beach.

National Parks and Wildlife Service later inherited the land for protection. Erosion and weather changes since caused the beach to recede and the pipe now becomes exposed in large swells.

Council has been working with the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Marine Parks Authority to relocate the pipe and after an extensive planning and approvals process, work has now begun.

Contractors this month began constructing a new sewer rising main further inland beneath Cullendulla Creek Nature Reserve and Cullendulla Creek using horizontal directional drilling. The 1.2 km pipeline is being installed up to 30 metres deep so as to not disturb the reserve and creek.

Works will be carried out at both Surfside and Long Beach between 7am and 6pm Monday to Friday. The walking track between Nuyen Place and Courtenay Crescent in Long Beach will be closed for the duration of the works however public access to Cullendulla Creek will remain via Courtenay Crescent.

Works will break for the summer holiday period from 21 December to 27 January and any exposed old sewer pipe will be removed from Cullendulla Creek Nature Reserve in February 2019.

Council staff will continue to monitor and remove any loose plastic surrounding the pipe if and when it becomes exposed.

For more information visit our Major Projects page.