Bronte Surf Club redevelopment plans divide residents

As their surf club threatens to crumble into the ocean, Bronte residents remain undecided about its replacement. The results from the public consultation have been released and now it is back to the drawing board for designers.

The original proposal for Bronte Surf Club.

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UPDATE

An acclaimed Sydney architect is workshopping revised plans for the Bronte Surf Life Saving Club redevelopment.

Last year the club unveiled artist impressions of their proposed design which received backlash, most notably from the Bronte Boardriders who organised a petition of almost 7000 signatures.

Leading architecture firm CHROFI is devising the new plans which incorporate the concerns raised such as reducing the footprint, keeping Dave Brown Place in its current location and minimising the loss of public open space.

Upon the completion of the designs, they will be put before Waverley Council before being opened up for a second round of public consultation.

Last year a report revealed how deeply divided the beachside suburb of Bronte was over plans for a new surf club.

Volunteers at the surf club argued they need something bigger and better to help them continue saving lives while other beach users have complained it is an overdevelopment.

The ageing club house is approaching the point of becoming dangerously unsafe.

The walls are crumbling and the ceiling is so heavily water damaged it is on the brink of collapse.

But the report revealed community sentiments on the $12.9 million proposed design had forced council back to the drawing board amid concerns the new larger venue would “dominate the beachfront” and “lead to the destruction of public space”.

A new public consultation report revealed of almost 700 survey respondents, 47 per cent are for the plans and a further 20 per cent agree with them provided changes are made.

Gaby Naher from Bronte Surf Club looks into one of the equipment rooms. Picture: John Appleyard

That leaves 33 per cent of those surveyed who are against proposal.

A petition spearheaded by the Bronte Boardriders has also been lodged with the council.

“I want to retain the essence of Bronte,” wrote Cyndi Freiman.

“Green public space at such a significant location needs to be preserved at all costs. This is over development at the expense of the public good,” wrote Jenny Templin.

Club president Basil Scaffidi said the aim of the initial design was to gauge public feedback and they were taking the criticism constructively.

The proposed changes to Dave Brown Place were unpopular.

“If there was a learning from the process it’s that we should have provided more information as many groups were not across the facts, as is reflected in that petition,” said Mr Scaffidi.

“For example, there were comments that the proposal was double the size of the existing building. The truth was that it was 30 per cent bigger and the (Bronte Park and Beach) Plan Of Management actually allows 25 per cent.”

The club say they’ve outgrown the shabby facility including the jam packed "bat cave" storage area. Picture: John Appleyard

Mayor Paula Masselos said: “The survey highlighted the need to revisit the concept design, and that’s what we’ll be doing.

“One of these proposals will be based on specific controls incorporated within the Bronte Park and Beach Plan of Management. The other will seek to modify the concept design that went to public consultation late May to June 3, based on the design criteria arising out of the council’s recent public consultation process.

“We take these concerns very seriously, and are aiming to strike a balance between the needs of all Bronte Beach and park users including residents, visitors, lifeguards, lifesavers and surf club members and volunteers.”

The amenities block also attracted criticism.

Principles to be considered in the new designs include: reducing the building footprint; not relocating Dave Brown Place and minimising the loss of open space.

Mr Scaffidi said it was a work in progress and the club would continue to work with council, who own the building which rests on Crown Land, to find a solution.

“It’s a good time to reflect on why we have decided to rebuild the facilities and club,” Mr Scaffidi said.

“Existing facilities are in a very poor state of repair as seen first-hand by many councillors and as reported to council by consultants engaged by council.

“They were not designed to accommodate the current membership numbers and use of the club by the community.”