New surf tower gets green light, despite many labelling it ‘a blight on our foreshore’
A ‘DOG ugly’ rescue tower made out of shipping containers would be a ‘blight to the foreshore’ — yet Holdfast Bay councillors still approved the $230,000 project.
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A “DOG ugly” rescue tower made out of shipping containers would be a “blight to the foreshore”, yet Holdfast Bay councillors put their support behind the $230,000 project last week.
Elected members hesitantly gave consent to Seacliff Surf Life Saving Club to build the proposed tower, hoping the club would reconsider the design before construction begins as early as November.
That hesitancy was apparent in Cr Samuel Charlick’s candid reaction.
“I’m an absolute supporter of the operation,” he said, “(but) I’m really concerned about the design.
“I think it’s just dog ugly — there’s no other way of putting it.”
Cr Mikki Bouchee agreed, saying the containers could become a graffiti target.
“The more I look at it, the more I think it’s a blight on our foreshore,” Cr Bouchee said.
“I can see when it’s not being used that people are going to graffiti it.”
Seacliff Surf Life Saving Club president Andrew Chandler said he was “hugely disappointed” the design was so strongly opposed.
“We’re trying to do something any surf club around Australia can look at and say they can do — put a facility in place reasonably cheaply.
“The top storey will have a cement-like product used on a lot of buildings so you won’t know it’s a shipping container, and the bottom one will have artwork cut into it.
“This is disappointing when we’re trying to do something a bit different.”
Mr Chandler said the club was working with the Aboriginal community to incorporate indigenous art, as well as something representative of surf life saving.
At the council meeting, members agreed to contribute $40,000 to the cost of the project, although the club had hoped for double that.
“We’ll still find a way to fund the rest because it’s too important for the community,” Mr Chandler said.
The project has already secured $150,000 in federal funding.
When voting in favour of the plan, councillors hoped they would get an opportunity to have further say before it receives development approval.
Holdfast Bay chief executive officer Justin Lynch told the CoastCity Weekly the council had no opportunity now to influence the design, but its development assessment panel would decide whether to approve or reject it at an upcoming meeting.
cathryn.mclauchlan@news.com.au
