West Beach Surf Lifesaving Club secures council guarantor pledge for club redevelopment

West Beach Surf Lifesaving Club has secured a loan guarantee from Charles Sturt Council to ensure their $5.9m redevelopment can go forward. See the latest.

West Beach today. Picture: Supplied

Charles Sturt Council have agreed to act as guarantor on a $720,000 loan for the West Beach Surf Lifesaving Club to redevelop its club.

Plans for a $5.878m redevelopment of the West Beach Surf Life Saving Club were unveiled earlier this month, with the club saying the redeveloped facility would service the community for the next 50 years.

In writing to council requesting the loan guarantee, club president Peter Zuill said the club could comfortably service all the financial requirements.

Works being undertaken at West Beach. Picture: Mike Burton

“It goes without saying that the redevelopment of the club is crucial in consolidating the strong commercial history and carrying a crucial South Australian volunteer run service into the future,” he said.

Councillor Kenzie van den Nieuwelaar said she was happy to support council guaranteeing the loan.

“This will be a fantastic addition not only for the surf lifesaving club but for the community as a whole,” she said.

Council voted unanimously to act as guarantor.

The redevelopment of the West Beach Surf Lifesaving Club has been delayed in recent years, as the club explored other possible locations for their clubroom due to the uncertainly of beach access to and from their existing building footprint.

The recent announcement from the state government to introduce additional sand stock into West Beach was the deciding factor for the club to remain at their existing location.

EARLIER: Efforts to save West Beach’s sand have ramped up, with preliminary work beginning on a pipeline to transport sand from the northern beaches to the badly eroded site.

Ground assessment works have started to help with design investigations for the new sand recycling pipeline to be constructed from Semaphore to West Beach.

A small truck mounted rig will be used to take core samples to assess ground conditions between West Beach and Largs Bay over the next month, with work occurring between 7am and 5pm on weekdays.

Supplied Editorial How West Beach looked in the 1960s. Pic: SUPPLIED

Environment and Water Minister David Speirs said the pipeline was the long-term solution to combat the devastating erosion at West Beach.

Once construction is complete the pipeline will move sand from beaches where it builds up naturally and significantly reduce the need for sand carting using trucks.

Mr Speirs said the pipeline formed the second part of the state government’s plan to save West Beach with a mass sand replenishment from land-based quarries to be undertaken later this year.

“For years residents in the western suburbs have watched on helplessly as their beach has disappeared before them,” he said.

“The ground assessment works (beginning this week) are an important first step and these investigations will help inform the final design and alignment of the pipeline.

A truck and excavator shifting sand just south of the River Torrens outlet on Monday, May 17, 2021. Picture: Mike Burton

“We will continue to work closely with the community through our Community Reference Group to deliver this project and once the initial design process is complete, further public consultation will follow.”

Construction of the pipeline is expected to start in 2021/22, with the aim of having the pipeline operational by 2022/23.

“Once completed and operational, the pipeline will significantly reduce the reliance on trucks to move sand, making it safer for the community, as well as reducing noise, congestion and the impacts of trucks on roads,” Mr Speirs said.

A pipeline from Glenelg to Kingston Park currently pumps about 100,000 cubic metres of sand each year.

The works are part of the state government’s $48.4m Securing the Future of our Coastline project, which is aimed at protecting Adelaide’s metropolitan beaches.