A report on the new Newcastle Beach skate park said to have been found in a skip bin has given the worst possible rating to the project condition just weeks out from its completion.
City of Newcastle contractor Daracon says all of the priority issues identified in the Newcastle Beach Skatepark Assessment Report, including more than 50 cases of concrete chipping and cracking, had been addressed.
The report was completed by skate park assessment company Baseplate. It states it was prepared for City of Newcastle and does not mention Daracon.
However the Newcastle Herald put questions to the council about the report, and a response quoted a Daracon spokesperson who said: "as part of our work to complete the project, an external consultant was commissioned to undertake an assessment of the Newcastle Beach skate park, which would highlight any potential hazards and function relating to skatepark design and construction".
A member of the public told the Herald the report was found in a skip bin near the Bogey Hole.
The assessment took place on July 1 and the report is dated July 8. The report gave a condition rating of '5 - very poor' to the skate park, with 1 being the best rating and 5 being the worst.
It said immediate action was required to rectify more than 50 instances of concrete chipping and cracking. Some joints and sections of steel coping were showing signs of corrosion and needed to be painted with a protective coating.
The Daracon spokesperson said the assessment that formed the basis of that report was carried out before work on the skate park was completed.
"Since then, all priority issues raised in the report have been addressed as part of the completion works," the spokesperson said.
The report also said the barrier rails and some lighting and seats did not comply. The report said City of Newcastle would be required to conduct a risk assessment on the light poles and seats, and either increase the railing height or seek approval from the Municipal Building Surveyor.
The length of the project has been a factor in those non-compliances, as the council said the relevant building standards had changed since the project was designed.
The report said once the priority repairs were completed, Baseplate anticipated the skate park rating would be elevated to a '1 - very good' rating.
Hairline cracks are also visible in the concrete surfaces, which will be monitored and resurfaced over time.
The Bathers Way and skate park project was started by Lloyd Group in August 2020 and at the time was quoted as a two year build.
The site was battered by heavy storms on several occasions and Lloyd Group fell into administration in March 2023, causing lengthy delays and cost blow-outs.
Daracon was then brought in to fix defective work and manage site safety before being employed to complete the construction.
The project cost has doubled since work began in 2020.
