Survey says 'build a new surf club' as locals urged to unite

Peregian surf club survey initial results in

The Peregian surf club forum. Picture: Peter Gardiner

A PEREGIAN community survey preliminary result about the future of the surf life saving club has found 62 per cent want a new clubhouse facility built.

According to the Peregian Family and Friends Association spokesman Kane Livingstone, this was preferred over the alternative option of keeping the building where it is.

Noosa Heads Surf Life Saving Club, which operates lifesaving services at Peregian since the local club folded, would like to build a larger clubhouse closer to the water to make this a viable operation.

It is a move not supported at this stage by Noosa Council or local groups such as the Peregian Beach Community Association and the Peregian Beach Surf Club, a local group which wants to set up a community-based lifesaving alternative at the existing club site.

Mr Livingstone said his group received 700 local responses from its online and phone survey crowd-funded by the community.

"Following results of the survey, Peregian Family and Friends will now work with SLSQ and Noosa Heads SLSC to bring nippers and a fully operational club which is protected against financial failure back to Peregian."

Mr Livingstone said the PBSC group was not affiliated with Surf Life Saving Queensland and the SLSQ had told local groups it fully supported Noosa further developing lifesaving services at Peregian. He said the survey showed more than 90 per cent of respondents believe a future Peregian Surf Club must be affiliated with SLSQ.

Peregian Beach Surf Club president Rob Neely said at the recent Peregian community forum held to discuss the future of the surf club, "the community told us that they want the various factions to come together and work together".

Mr Neely said his group wanted to work with Noosa Heads SLSC to provide lifesaving services in a revamped existing building.

"The Peregian community want to take back this asset. We want to take back and put life back into this building," he said.

Mr Neely said the PBSC had released detailed plans for a "21st century surf club model" inclusive of the whole community and potentially a significant drawcard for tourists and marine researchers. He said it would be "much more in harmony with the locality" than a larger clubhouse.

"We want to bring it in line with what the Peregian community expectations are," Mr Neely said.

He said Noosa Heads SLSC had not engaged with his group as yet.

"We're hoping they'll come to the table shortly, but everyone else is engaging with us and getting behind the plan," Mr Neely said.