Northern Beaches Council is proposing to repair a degraded stormwater pipe at South Steyne and incorporate it into artfully-designed public seating.

Northern Beaches Deputy Mayor, Candy Bingham said the old pipe is badly degraded with multiple cracks and holes visible along its length, and urgently in need of repair.

“Council recognises that the area is widely used as a makeshift seating area, anyway, but is taking the opportunity to improve the surrounding amenity to all recreational users of Manly Beach by incorporating more seating surfaces.

“The proposed seating - complete with suitable stepped access - will fully encase the pipe, and so further improve beach amenity while also protecting the repaired stormwater pipe from future damage,”

“The pipe needs to be encased to protect it from coastal storms, but the plan is to go one step further – and adapt the concrete shell for use as open-air seating.” said Cr Bingham.

Starting September, Council staff hope to begin lining the pipe, repairing it and then encasing it in a contoured sandstone coloured concrete shell so the pipe blends in with the surrounding environment and seawall.

The work is planned to be undertaken between September and November 2018.

Northern Beaches Council is seeking community comment on the proposal - and in particular the seating idea.

You can view the proposal and submit your comments by going to northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au    

During the work period from September to November, access to the area close to the seawall will be restricted.