FORSTER Surf Life Saving Club is heading towards a revamp, with a $300 000 grant to kick-start its renovations.
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The money will be put towards redeveloping the top floor of the club with new amenities which will eventually include a new kitchen, and bigger club room floor, which will extend out over the concrete below. A new entry is also planned, along with further works on the surrounding landscape.
It is all part of a development application which was approved earlier this year by Great Lakes Council, but has remained in hiatus due to a lack of funds. Whilst very welcome, the new grant from the state’s Surf Club Facility Program is nowhere near enough to cover the costs of the whole project, which is estimated to cost $1.6 million. However John Quinn, the club’s president, said it is enough to provide a welcome start.
“You’ve got to start somewhere, and this grant might encourage other dollars to come in from elsewhere” he said.
“We’ll have some meetings to decide what parts we’re going to get done first. It will have to be done in stages, so this grant will go towards Stage One”.
The club recently updated the outdated ladies amenities downstairs thanks to another grant of $20 000.
John Quinn said he hopes work will be able to being in April or May this year, but that it will take several years before renovations across the club are complete.
The grant, announced by NSW minister for sport Stuart Ayres, is part of $1.7million being awarded to Surf Life Saving Clubs in NSW as part of the Surf Club Facility Grant Program. Recognising the important role clubs play in communities, the program aims to help clubs improve their facilities and subsequently their use, safety and participation by club members.
Other surf clubs to receive grants include Hat Head, and Lennox Head.