Newport Surf Life Saving Club: $7m refurb DA back before planning officials after knock-back
Since 2017 the Newport Surf Life Saving Club has been pushing for its historic clubhouse to be modernised. The $7m proposal is back before planning authorities.
Manly
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A $7 million refurbishment proposal for a surf club is now back before planning authorities after it was knocked back two months ago.
In October, the State North Planning Panel refused a development application by Northern Beaches Council to improve and make additions to the Newport Surf Life Saving Club.
The club, which has 1000 active members, had been pushing for the clubhouse — owned by the council — upgrade since 2011.
As well as more equipment storage; a new foyer and lift; two training rooms and; extending its terrace; a buried seawall was proposed to protect the heritage-listed building from coastal erosion due to more frequent storms and sea level rises.
But the independent panel ruled in October that the site was unsuitable for the proposed development due to its exposure to “coastal hazards”.
It also had concerns over the building’s height.
In a Notice of Determination, the council explained that the panel, as the consent authority, “remains unconvinced of the merits of using coastal protection works to protect the current building footprint … given that over topping and inundation of the building would still occur”.
The panel recommended that the building be demolished and moved to another location nearby “given storm inundation will continue to increase as the sea level rises”.
It also said it was not satisfied that satisfactory arrangements had been made to address Section 27 of the Coastal Management Act.
Under the Act, development consent could only be granted if the consent authority was satisfied that coastal protection works did not “unreasonably limit” public access to, or use of, a beach”.
The panel suggested that collateral erosion damage was likely on the surrounding beach and park.
State MP for Pittwater Rob Stokes told NSW parliament that there was no suitable alternate location for the clubhouse.
“The answer is in the name,” Mr Stokes said. “By definition and design, it needs to be adjacent to the surf.”
Mr Stokes said there was already a buried and poorly designed ad hoc seawall at Newport.
“Without the project, if a severe storm occurred, the existing building would collapse and the existing rock seawall would be exposed, leaving debris across the beach,” he said.
In a submission opposing the DA, the Surfrider Foundation’s northern beaches branch president, Brendan Donohue, argued that it would result in a surf club building in a “very prominent position” on the beach “that a large proportion of the community find offensive”.
A “Review of Determination of Application” was lodged with the panel on November 29, which includes a “range of potential options” for both the clubhouse and coastal protection works”.
A consultant’s report as part of the review pointed out that under the “Ocean Beaches Plan of Management: Newport Beach”, adopted by the former Pittwater in 2006, it “does not contemplate … the demolition of the existing surf club building and the construction of a new surf club building elsewhere on the site”.
“There is no other location at the site that could accommodate a new surf club building that was generally not affected by coastal hazards of some form,” the report stated.
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