Sandon Point Surf Club upgrade with $300,000 funding

SANDON Point Surf Club has received over $300,000 in NSW Government funding to extend the upper-level deck and roofline of the building to provide an awning.

Sandon Point was one of six in the Illawarra to benefit from more than $1.3 million to upgrade, restore and improve surf clubs as part of the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government’s Surf Club Facility Fund.

Bellambi Surf Life Saving Club also received over $50,000 to update storage and first aid areas, while Coalcliff Surf Life Saving Club will benefit with $45,000 for new kitchen facilities.

NSW Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience Steph Cooke said the program provides grants ranging between $50,000 and $650,000.

“More than 20,000 Surf Life Saving NSW volunteers patrol 129 coastal locations every weekend and public holiday between the peak October to April period, so it’s vital they have modern and fit-for-purpose facilities,” Ms Cooke said.

State MP for Heathcote Lee Evans said the busy summer period highlights why local surf clubs need fit-for-purpose facilities.

“We have some of the most beautiful and popular beaches in our region and it is crucial our Illawarra surf clubs have the facilities they need to protect both visitors and locals on our beaches,” Mr Evans said.

Surf Life Saving NSW President George Shales said ensuring surf clubs across NSW are maintained and upgraded is vitally important.

“Our volunteers deserve safe, accessible and secure facilities in order to train new lifesavers and support the community,” he said.

“Many Surf Life Saving Clubs have been on the frontline in the last year, responding to incidents and emergencies including the recent flood disaster, and they need to be able to safely store and access vital rescue equipment at short notice.”

Northern Illawarra projects include:

Sandon Point Surf Club: $307,315

Extension of the upper-level deck and upper-level roofline to provide awning. A small storage unit will also be installed on the deck, and a new solar system added to the roof. This shelter will prevent water from pooling into the building during heavy rain and the upper balcony will be used as an elevated observation tower, allowing active surveillance of the entire bay area.

Bellambi Surf Life Saving Club: $50,600

Update storage and first aid areas by installing storage shelving and gates and enacting floor/wall repair, protect vital lifesaving equipment by repairing and updating access doors and expanding club’s security system, and optimize accessibility in and between our safety equipment storage areas to streamline incident response.

Coalcliff Surf Life Saving Club: $45,000

Kitchen facility installation to provide basic catering for club members attending training or meetings at its clubhouse.

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