Five Central Coast surf clubs are among 32 statewide to benefit from the latest round of the NSW Government’s Surf Club Facility Program.
The program helps surf lifesaving clubs develop facilities that encourage increased participation and facility usage as well as improve community safety.
Ocean Beach club was awarded $398,663 for the creation of an enclosed education and training space for volunteers and Soldiers Beach club has been awarded $33,000 for the installation of a battery storage unit.
North Entrance Surf Life Saving Club was awarded $32,727 for the installation of a new solar PV system and an upgrade to its changing facilities.
MacMasters Beach club receives $30,583.64 for an upgrade to its solar system which will allow for environmentally sustainable power supply and battery storage, while Wamberal Surf Life Saving Club receives $92,400 for the construction of an all-weather awning on the first floor of the Club.
Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch said the money will go a long way in supporting increased participation, facility usage and improved safety at the clubs.
MacMasters Beach Surf Life Saving Club president Alison McNeill said the solar system upgrade will allow for an environmentally sustainable power supply and battery storage.
“It will be of benefit to our whole community as we can provide power during outages and allow cost savings to be used in surf lifesaving activities,” she said.
Wamberal Surf Life Saving Club president Adam Phillips said the grant will have a significant impact on the way the club’s deck area is used.
“It allows not only the patrol members, but members of the community to be able to come to the club and use the facility and be protected from the weather,” he said.
Minister for Central Coast David Harris, Member for The Entrance David Mehan and Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch said lifesaving volunteers were the unsung heroes of the community, protecting locals and visitors in the water.
They said the grants would contribute towards the development of modern, fit-for-purpose facilities that enables surf lifesavers to better protect the community and continue to deliver a world-class service.
Minister for Sport Steve Kamper said surf lifesavers never wavered in their commitment to protecting the community.
“That’s why we are providing $21M over four years to ensure our surf lifesaving clubs have modern, inclusive and accessible facilities,” he said.
Surf Life Saving NSW President Peter Agnew said 20,000 active volunteer surf lifesavers had performed more than 4,600 rescues, a million preventative actions and nearly 20,000 first aid treatments during the recent beach season.
“It has been one of our busiest patrol seasons in years,” he said.
“The Surf Club Facility Program has always contributed greatly to the ongoing important community service our lifesavers deliver, through enhanced facilities to ensure our lifesavers are rescue-ready, trained, and equipped appropriately, and it’s excellent to see 32 clubs benefitting from the latest round of funding.
“Our surf clubs also act as key community hubs, promoting inclusivity and social cohesion, so this investment benefits all the community.
“We have 129 clubs across the state, with 78,000 members, and this program allows those members, who do such important work volunteering at our beaches, to focus on saving lives.”
The NSW Government has allocated $16M to the program over four years.
This was boosted by an additional $5M in the 2023/24 NSW State Budget as part of a $23M funding increase to Surf Life Saving NSW to better protect beachgoers and reduce drownings.