Newport Surf Life Saving Club: Council wants $7.8m refurb DA knock-back reviewed by officials
The fate of a proposed $7.8m makeover of a heritage-listed Sydney surf club is still in doubt as planning officials and the council battle it out.
Manly
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A decision by planning officials to knock back a bid for a $7.8m million makeover of a dilapidated surf club is being fought by Northern Beaches Council.
It wants to partially demolish, improve and extend the Newport Surf Life Saving Club and include a buried sea wall to protect the close to 100-year-old building.
But in October last year the NSW Government’s independent State North Planning Panel rejected the development application.
The panel instead recommended the building be demolished and moved further away from the seafront “given storm inundation will continue to increase as the sea level rises”.
The deadline for public submissions to the review process close on Tuesday.
A proposed building extension plan was first exhibited in August 2017, based on a masterplan commissioned by the surf club.
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 a rise in sea levels.
But the panel suggested that collateral erosion damage was likely on the surrounding beach and park.
The council explained that in October 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”.
State MP for Pittwater Rob Stokes told NSW parliament that there was already a buried “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 if the redevelopment got the go-ahead it would result in a building in a “very prominent position” on the beach “that a large proportion of the community find offensive”.
Mr Donohoe recently wrote that the clubhouse should be relocated and that the proposed buried seawall would not prevent flooding.
“We also agree that in the case of Newport SLSC the building is much loved by the local community — us included. It’s just regrettably in the wrong spot,” he said.
“It’s construction will increase beach erosion … and the locking up of sand behind the wall will have negative repercussions for both Newport and Bilgola beaches.
The council has lodged a “Review of Determination of Application” with the panel which includes updated reports.
Northern Beaches mayor Michael Regan said the current layout of the club house did not meet its current or future needs “particularly in relation to working and supporting the local community.
“Surf clubs are the life blood of our community,” Mr Regan said
“Council has been working with the Newport Surf Lifesaving Club and the community to develop a design that addresses the storage, floorspace limitations and improve accessibility. “We also want to ensure the design solution meets the needs of the club, while balancing the potential impact of coastal hazards and while preserving the historic nature of the building.”
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