Long-time critics of the Newcastle beach skate park say an expert report that gave the park the lowest possible condition rating is more evidence it was built in the wrong place.
The Newcastle Herald reported on Wednesday that skate park design and assessment company Baseplate had rated the beachfront park in "very poor condition" when it inspected the soon-to-be-completed project on July 1.
The company's report, a copy of which the Herald was told had been found in a skip bin, identified more than 50 cases of chipping and cracking concrete, corroding metal and safety rails too low to meet design standards.
South Newcastle beach surfer Bernie Wilson said the report illustrated some of the problems associated with building a skate park close to the ocean.
"Ratepayers are well and truly fed up with this ongoing vanity project," he said.
"It just goes to show the engineers that we, South Newcastle board riders, took into meetings with the council were right.
"Not only did they grossly underestimate the building costs, but also the ongoing maintenance of the area."
Contractor Daracon said on Tuesday that all of the priority issues identified in the Baseplate report had been addressed.
City of Newcastle and the state government announced joint funding for the skate park in June 2018.
Construction firm Lloyd Group started work in August 2020 on what was meant to be a two-year project.
A severe storm swell battered the construction site in April 2022, reviving a debate over whether the skate park would withstand its marine environment.
Lloyd Group went into administration in March 2023, and the skate park costs blew out from $11 million to more than $20 million.
Daracon was brought in to fix defective work before being employed to finish the construction.
The Baseplate report said completing the priority repairs would elevate the skate park's condition to a "very good" level-one rating.
Newcastle East Residents Group said it was "disappointed but not surprised" the report had found "major" defects in the skate park.
"From the beginning council was warned that such a project would be costly and very difficult," a spokesperson said.
"This is a skate park that was not asked for by the community or by skaters.
"Its scale and cost has blown out exponentially. Experience tells us that maintenance will be an ongoing issue.
"We can only hope that the list of defects will be rectified and the skate park will at least start its life in a good condition."
The skate park is expected to open in mid-August.
Professional skater George Richards said at a council media event on Tuesday that the park was "incredible".
"It's nice to have something that's in such an incredible location," he said after testing the skate bowl.
