Actually thanks to all who have input to this thread.
I'm about to put in a pier and "man astro shed" and have been perusing posts and forum for relevent experience, costs and data etc. So this helps me heaps.
Looking at a 300mm sonotube pier with reo on around a 1m cubic base. At this stage I'll just leave the sonotube on when pier is dry. I cannot see the sense in removing it?
This sonotube cost a packet! Might be best to make my own?
edit:
sonotube costs are around $29 (+GST) per metre in 3 metre lengths. They (
tubeworks) will cut and sell in smaller lengths. A 2m length = $36 per m (+GST).
They will deliver but...your wouldn't want to know this cost!