Redleaf Pool, Rose Bay Sydney: Digger gets bogged in sand at beach

Disastrous beach excavation sees a $300,000 digger BOGGED in the sand at a popular swimming spot – before the tow truck sent to haul it out gets stuck too

  • A excavator got stuck on a beach in Rose Bay while doing maintenance work
  • The $300,000 machine went off course and quickly was swept into the sea
  • A tow truck arrived on scene but then soon also found itself stuck
  • A second excavator was then called in to rescue the digger and tow truck 

Maintenance work on a popular beach didn’t quite go to plan as a 30-tonne excavator was swept into the sea. 

The $300,000 digger had to be dragged out of the water at Rose Bay Beach, after it veered off course and quickly started to sink.

The excavator was doing contract work at the beach in the inner city suburb of Rose Bay on behalf of Woollahra Council before the summer swimming season.

A tow truck arrived at the beach a short time later to attempt to haul the digger to safety, but much like its machine compatriot soon also became bogged in the sand. 

Maintenance work on a beach in Rose Bay (pictured) didn’t quite go to plan as a 30-tonne excavator was swept into the sea after going off course

A tow truck arrived a short time later to try and haul the digger to safety but also soon became stuck with another excavator being called to rescue the digger and tow truck

A tow truck arrived a short time later to try and haul the digger to safety but also soon became stuck with another excavator being called to rescue the digger and tow truck

An excavator reinforcement was eventually called in to the beach to lift both the digger and tow truck to safety.  

It is just another beach requiring works in the area with Sydney’s Shark Beach to remain shut over the summer after a delay in work done to on its seawall.

The beach was meant to reopen in December but wet weather has meant work on the 160-metre concrete wall won’t be completed until next year. 

As well as repairing the seawall, which was built in the 1930s and suffered considerable damage during storms in 2016, works include creating a wheelchair-accessible ramp to the beach and improving stair access to the beach. 

New lawn and more native trees will also be planted and with the promenade area expanded and resurfaced and a new irrigation system put in place. 

Despite the uninviting name, Shark  Beach is considered great for safe family swimming with soft sand, a shady and leafy park backdrop and views of the Sydney city skyline from the water.

Tourism Australia lists Shark Beach as one of the nine best beaches in Sydney, making it popular among tourists as well as locals.