Cost-effectiveness of Moana Surf Lifesaving Club’s proposed $3.8m rebuild probed by Onkaparinga Council staff
Surf life savers say a club at one of Adelaide’s most popular beaches needs a total $3.8m rebuild – but council staff say it’s fine for another 38 years.
The cost-effectiveness of a proposal to spend $3.8m rebuilding the Moana Surf Lifesaving Club has been cast into doubt by council staff, who warn the building still has “38 years of remaining useful life”.
The upgrade, proposed by Surf Life Saving SA and Moana Surf Lifesaving Club, would expand the club’s garage to fit more emergency services vehicles, upgrade the change-rooms and add an accessible change-room, along with a slew of minor changes.
Onkaparinga Council, which owns the building, has been asked to contribute $1.247m to the project – one third of the $3.78m price-tag – while $2.1m would be paid by taxpayers through the state’s emergency services fund and $416,000 by the club.
Council staff have warned the expansion “involves extensive demolition and reconstruction of serviceable spaces for minimal spatial gains”, despite the building being in a “satisfactory condition”.
The council would need to borrow the $1.247m, adding to its whopping debt which is already forecast to reach $135.9m by June 2026.
Councillors are set to vote on Tuesday night whether to accept or deny the funding request.
Council staff say a significant portion of the budget was allocated to “demolishing and rebuilding existing rooms with minimal changes to their overall size”.
This included no change in size to the first aid room, a 2m2 increase to the meeting room, a 1m2 increase to the patrol room and a 1m2 increase to the office.
However, SLSSA chief executive Damien Marangon said the council report did not accurately represent “key improvements being planned”.
He said the patrol room would be relocated to a more appropriate position “to ensure emergency services are not compromised as they currently are”.
“The first aid room is currently part of a corridor, which is again not appropriate and needs to be a private room,” Mr Marangon said.
“Any reports that suggest there is minimal new space being added or the current building is satisfactory, are simply not true.
“We have only received very positive feedback from the council and councillors as to the proposed improvements.”
However, council staff described the building as “in satisfactory condition with 38 years of remaining useful life”.
A report noted the proposal would enlarge the building’s present garage space, which was smaller than the recommended standard.
But staff added the club also used a storage shed at the Moana Beach Tourist Park, which brought its total storage space to above the recommended standard.
The state government’s $2.1m of funding is conditional on councillors approving Onkaparinga Council’s contribution.
The building was already upgraded in 2020, when its roof and airconditioning system was replaced at a cost of $290,000.
If the council votes to accept the funding request, it would work “collaboratively with SLSSA and Moana SLSC to deliver a more cost-effective design”, the council report said.
More Coverage
Originally published as Cost-effectiveness of Moana Surf Lifesaving Club’s proposed $3.8m rebuild probed by Onkaparinga Council staff
Boy on the run after woman slashed with knife in roadside horror
