Seacliff Surf Life Saving Club rescue tower opens in time for summer
A surf rescue tower built from shipping container slammed by local representatives as a “blight on the foreshore” has been opened at Seacliff. How do you think it fits in?
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A new $230,000 patrol tower made out of shipping containers has opened at the Seacliff Surf Life Saving Club.
The club officially opened its new two-storey observation tower on Thursday afternoon and will use it to watch over beachgoers for the first time on Saturday.
Club president Glen Patten said it was a fantastic outcome for the community.
“With the new tower we have great vision to help the public,” Mr Patten said.
He said it would also allow the club to easily retrieve its access mat and floating wheelchair – which will be stored inside – to assist people with disabilities who visit the beach.
The new building was jointly funded by the club, the Federal Government and Holdfast Bay Council.
Federal Liberal MP for Boothby Nicolle Flint secured $150,000 for the project and the council contributed $70,000.
The plan was initially met with hesitancy from some Holdfast Bay councillors, who labelled the design “dog ugly” and “a blight on our foreshore”.
The club decided to use shipping containers because it allowed the structure to be built relatively cheaply.
The tower’s opening has been welcomed by Mayor Amanda Wilson who said it allowed surf lifesavers access to modern facilities while patrolling the busiest section of the beach.
“It is wonderful that the life saving club, which provides thousands of volunteer hours to keep our community safe, now have the modern facilities they need to support the important work they do,” Mrs Wilson said.
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Ms Flint said its opening was a “milestone” for the club.
“The club pioneered the Beach Access for All initiative that made Seacliff South
Australia’s first disability accessible beach and their new facilities will help them support more South Australians to get onto the beach and into the water,” Ms Flint said.