The $288,331 grant will be shared with the Forster Tuncurry Men's Shed

The club, one of two local community groups to share the $288,331 grant, will spend the money on the installation of water tanks, a security system and external lighting, solar power and fire protection measures around the perimeter of the club.

Local emergency management officer and local emergency management committee chairman, Andrew Blatch advised the club on suitable fire protection measures.

Speaking on behalf of the surf club, president Bruce White said he was pleased with the grant and extended his thanks to local MP Stephen Bromhead.

"Mr Bromhead was instrumental in the Black Head Surf Club obtaining the grant funding," Dr White said.

Last year's bushfires were a wake-up call for the small community, and the club which played a large part during the catastrophe.

"We felt we could do much better in the future to ensure the safety of people in the area."

The concept of a Neighbourhood Safer Place (NSP) has been initiated in local councils; in our council local emergency management officer and local emergency management committee chairman, Andrew Blatch has been a great resource, Dr White said.

"To be considered as a NSP; power, water and Internet security is needed as well as the physical security of the building and security of the residents inside the club."

While Dr White believed it could take 18 months to complete, club members were confident it would make a greater contribution to the safety of residents should a disaster occur in the future.

Forster-Tuncurry Men's Shed also will share the spoils from the government's infrastructure grants program.

The men's shed plans to install a 40-kilowatt hybrid solar system with battery storage at its Tuncurry Waste Transfer Station site.

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Batteries will enable the site to share free power to adjacent site holders prior to any excess power being fed back into the grid.

"Our Government is pleased to provide this much-needed support which will stimulate local economic activity and help organisations get back on their feet after facing often devastating impacts of bushfires and COVID-19," Mr Bromhead said.

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