Building underground at Coogee Beach

Published Date
16/08/2017
News Topic
Planning & Development, Upgrades & Improvements, Beaches & Lifeguards
Coogee amenities block

Wondering what’s going on behind the fence at Coogee Beach?

The improved and much expanded amenities building will be opened and ready for use on Friday 1 September 2017. 

We take a look at the complex building work that took place over the past 12 months to transform the facilities at Goldstein Reserve from a 150sqm structure into 750sqm fully-functioning amenities building, all without losing access to any public open space.

The challenge

The challenge was to provide a structure that wouldn’t spoil the glorious vista whilst also providing a building to accommodate 19 toilet cubicles, 10 showers, change areas, lockers, a kiosk, board storage and facilities for Council Lifeguards and cleaning staff.

Council’s solution was to build underground – expanding the existing Lifeguard Office space without taking away any public open green space.

Coogee amenities blueprint 

But building underground is complex and has its own challenges. Getting enough light and air movement is important to make the space feel bright, safe and inviting. Council’s innovative solution involves obscured light wells in Goldstein Reserve providing lots of natural light and air ventilation shafts around the outside of the building.

The female facilities at the new Coogee amenities

Community consultation

In 2014 we conducted a comprehensive consultation program with local residents and businesses. The results were clear – the current toilets and facilities at the beach are not good enough. Two out of three respondents said more toilets, changerooms and showers close to the beach are needed. People also said they’d prefer a new building rather than enlarging the existing toilets at the back of the Arden Street bus stop.

Storm & flood damage

The design of the new building had to take into account the  wild weather conditions experienced at Coogee Beach, as evidenced by the June 2016 storms which caused extensive damage to the coastline. Flood modelling was undertaken to ensure the building could withstand adverse weather conditions, and as a result screw piling with non-ferrous materials were used for the façade and internal elements.

Protecting our heritage

Great care was taken when demolishing the existing structure so as not to disturb the sandstone heritage wall which stretches around to the Coogee Surf Life Saving Club. Following an excavation process, an engineering and construction methodology was put in place in order to safeguard the wall and its foundation. Existing paving and lighting on the upper promenade had to be removed with care to ensure reinstatement was possible on completion of the project.

The new Coogee amenities

Sewer line

Excavation for the much larger site also required care because Goldstein Reserve has a main sewer line crossing the reserve along with underground power, water, irrigation systems and other services, which dictated the extent to which excavation could be undertaken. 

Maintaining public use

The site build was planned in order that public access to Goldstein Reserve was preserved as much as possible during building works – this involved several trades working in parallel on numerous occasions, or being dependent on sections being completed by other trades before site access was available. For example, very large concrete structures and large sandstone boulders were located during the build and had to be removed before screw piling works could be undertaken. These sandstone blocks are being stored at our Maroubra Depot, and will be reused on future maintenance projects within Randwick City.

The new building at Goldstein Reserve has effectively been built underground, allowing the roof of the structure to have light wells, soil and grass reinstated and therefore ensuring this area of the Reserve is still available for public use. This was possible by adding a waterproof layer and drainage system for soil and grass.

Artists impression of the new Coogee amenitiesThe Randwick City Council Lifeguards and the maintenance staff had to be rehoused into temporary accommodation further north on Goldstein Reserve before demolition could be commenced.

The new amenities are now almost complete. They have more than doubled the available toilets showers and changeroom facilities at the beach.

The new facility will offer:

We’ve also built a new seating area on Goldstein Reserve that offers unparalleled views of the area.

Related resources

Last Updated: 1 March 2022
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