Diggies closed as North Beach construction zone takes shape

There are big changes underway at North Wollongong Beach right now with preparations underway for a start to work on the multi-million-dollar extended seawall along the beachfront.

On Sunday, popular waterfront venues Diggies and the North Beach Kiosk traded for the last time, serving hundreds of customers before their forced closure as the busy precinct is transformed into a major construction zone.

Wollongong City Council has signed off on stage two of the seawall extension, which is being jointly funded as a coastal protection project by Council and the NSW Government. The new “fit for purpose” seawall will replace the ageing crib wall.

Signage from Council erected on site on Tuesday afternoon said “a new look is on the horizon for North Beach!”

“We’re extending the new seawall to North Beach Pavilion which will feature an all-access ramp, bleachers, viewing platform, garden beds, upgraded pathways and paving,” the signage said.

“We’ll also be doing some structural repairs to the kiosk and pavilion.”

Contractors have been busy on site and the kiosk has quickly been gutted. Gone are the counters, and the serving area is now just a shell.

At Diggies, seats and tables and cooking equipment have been cleaned out as the premises prepares for its temporary new role providing accommodation for the seawall construction project team.

Over the past 48 hours, large areas in the precinct have been fenced off. Popular grassy areas between the kiosk and the Pavilion cafe are now out of bounds. There’s been extra fencing put in place to protect the sculptural tribute to the North Wollongong Surf Life Saving Club.

Fencing has also been erected across a large section of North Wollongong Beach, taking out an area of beach measuring about 70 metres x 20 metres, including a popular beach volleyball space.

Access to the beach, which will remain patrolled during the construction program, is now from directly in front of the surf club and near the Pavilion Cafe.

Work is also underway at the new Emma McKeon Promenade, which has also been fenced off, in preparation for the creation of a pop-up temporary cafe, to be run by the operators of Diggies. It’s believed the cafe could be up and operating in time for Easter.

While Council had hoped the seawall construction project might be completed by next summer, that may have been a little ambitious. On-site signage says: “We’re aiming for a mid-2027 completion.”

Council says “when complete, it’ll protect our coastline and keep the area beautiful, accessible and ready for many more years of beachside adventures”.

With Diggies and North Beach Kiosk out of action for some time, it means a big boost in trading at nearby venues. It was certainly all smiles at the Pavilion Cafe, which on Tuesday afternoon was doing a roaring trade.

While sections of the popular Blue Mile have been impacted by the fencing, the ever-popular walk and cycle route will remain open for the duration of the construction work.