Safe swimming

The safety of swimmers will no longer be compromised with the shark barrier at Middleton beach to remain in tact during the renovations of the Ellen Cove jetty.

Works began today to repair the deteriorated timbers of one of the oldest piers in Albany.

A section of the barrier was set to be lowered by 1m to allow a barge carrying equipment and materials to access the site for the duration of the works.

The City of Albany released a statement last week which stated construction plans have changed with works now to be carried out from the beach.

“Those plans have changed after the contractor decided it was more efficient to carry out the works from the beach due to tides and the sand levels around the jetty,” the statement said.

To accommodate this, contractors will close 10 parking bays adjacent to the Albany Surf Life Saving Club on Sunday night to allow a crane and sea container to access the beach early on Monday morning.

The parking bays will reopen immediately after the sea container and first materials are delivered to the site.

The pathway to the Ellen Cove Boardwalk will also be closed for short two-minute intervals about 4 times a day to allow the delivery of materials to the jetty.

While a 10-metre exclusion zone around the jetty will still apply.

Works are expected to be completed by March 23.