North Burleigh Surf Life Saving Club: Big change coming to clubhouse facilities

A major change is coming to one of the Gold Coast’s best-known surf life saving clubs which see part of its clubhouse transformed in an unexpected fashion. FIND OUT MORE

A prominent Gold Coast surf club will become home to a development sales suite after a novel deal was struck between management and a key property figure.

Part of the second level of North Burleigh Surf Life Saving Club will be used to sell David Devine’s Burly residences tower to be built across the road.

The deal to hand over the space to Mr Devine’s team was made in exchange for him paying for significant clubhouse upgrades.

North Burleigh Surf Life Saving Club.

Upgrades will include improved training facilities and amenities, a gym and meeting rooms.

“Following the approval of the Burly Residences, the proprietor identified the need for a sales office to assist with unit sales during construction (and) given the limited available area on site, an off-site location was required for the sales office that was still within proximity of the site,” a letter from Mr Devine’s DD Living to council states.

“Through discussions with the director of the North Burleigh Surf Life Saving Club, an opportunity for the sales office to be located on the second floor was identified (and) a private agreement between the applicant and the surf club was made whereby, in exchange for internal upgrades and refurbishments to the second level of the surf club, the sales suite could operate temporarily within a portion of the floorplan.

Developer David Devine.

The space will be returned to the club once the remaining units are sold.

Club president Andrew Haddon said it was “essential” that individual clubs “identify agile, collaborative and forward-thinking ways to support their operations and to attract and retain volunteers”.

“These upgrades are critical to our club as a means of ensuring improved accessibility for our members and being able to better support key community programs, such as our Seahorse Program which for the last 10 years has provided a surf-safe experience for children and young people with various physical and cognitive disabilities,” he said.

Artist impression of the Burly Residences development at Burleigh Heads. Picture: Supplied

“Our partnership provides some non-exclusive use of space within our club for a maximum of two years in return for the club and community benefit outlined above, which represents a combined value of approximately $1m.

Construction on the $510m tower, on a 2024 sqm site on The Esplanade, began earlier this year after it was approved by the Council.

The 25-storey tower will have a mixture of 101 units ranging from two-to-four bedrooms, plus a two-level, six-star resort.

Prices start at $2.2m for a two-bedroom unit while the single-level four-bedroom penthouses start at $13.6m.

Mr Devine earlier this year said the project would bring about significant change on the Esplanade.

“I am thrilled to see progress on site and eagerly await the milestones as it is transformed into Burly Residences over the coming years,” he said at the time.

“Burly has been designed in response to the premium beachfront location – a coastal glamour that is carried through to the interiors with the very best elements of beach living blended into cosmopolitan sophistication and elegance.”