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Case Study · Marine & Waterfront Construction

Complete — December 2025

Mylestom Tidal Pool
& Reserve Upgrade

Alma Doepel Park, River Street, Mylestom NSW — for Bellingen Shire Council

Client
Bellingen Shire Council
Contractor
SWF Constructions
Timeline
Oct – Dec 2025
Total Value
$656,172

Background

Rebuilding after two storms

The Mylestom tidal pool took a battering in 2025 — first from Tropical Cyclone Alfred in March, then the NSW East Coast severe weather event in May. Between the two, the pool's marine piles, decking and shark-net enclosure were damaged badly enough that Bellingen Shire Council needed more than a patch-up: a proper resilience rebuild, done before the next season of storms.

Scope of works

What we rebuilt

Replaced five damaged marine piles

Installed new fibreglass mesh decking

Replaced the shark net enclosure & stainless-steel bracings

Added new bench seats & bollards

Installed a debris boom to manage driftwood through the pool enclosure

Funding

How it was funded

Boating Infrastructure Emergency Repair Pool (BIERP)$269,515.32
Crown Reserves Improvement Funding (CRIF)$246,575.00
Bellingen Shire Council (S7.12 Developer contribution)$140,082.00
Total project value$656,172.32

On site

Progress & completion

The tidal pool is open to the community again, with new piles, decking, enclosure and driftwood management in place ahead of the next storm season.

Before — storm damage

Storm damage to the Mylestom tidal pool enclosure after Tropical Cyclone Alfred and the May 2025 east coast storm
Damaged furniture and debris cleared from Alma Doepel Park after the storms
SWF Constructions on site at Alma Doepel Park before works began, original timber pool still standing
The old storm-damaged shark net enclosure being lifted clear by crane

Under construction

Crew rebuilding the pool enclosure from a work barge
Erosion control fabric being installed along the reserve edge
New piles and framing going in, aerial view
The rebuilt pool enclosure frame, aerial view
Crane lifting a new precast pontoon section into Alma Doepel Park
New timber piles freshly driven, ahead of decking
Excavator preparing the sand bank for the new pontoon ramp
Excavator working beside the partially placed pontoon ramp at the water's edge
New hardwood boardwalk decking and framing over the water
Geotextile fabric and rock reinforcement along the eroded reserve bank

Shark net enclosure

New shark net laid out on the grass at Alma Doepel Park ready for installation
New shark net installed along the pontoon edge in the tidal pool

Complete

New fibreglass mesh decking complete, aerial view
The finished tidal pool, aerial view with Mylestom in the background
The finished mooring piles standing in calm water
Wide view of the finished piles and pontoon at Alma Doepel Park
New aluminium access ramp and handrails leading down into the water
The finished floating pontoon and boardwalk, with a small punt moored alongside
Overhead view of the finished aluminium ramp and stainless handrails

Project information from Bellingen Shire Council.