Ocean Grove Surf Lifesaving Club officially opens

OCEAN Grove Surf Lifesaving Club’s new clubhouse officially opened at the weekend, boosting the safety of beachgoers at one of Victoria’s most popular surf beaches.

Minister for Police and Emergency Services Lisa Neville unveiled the plaque to mark the opening of the $9.4 million redevelopment on Sunday, thanking the club and the community for delivering the facility.

The Andrews Labor Government has invested $4.3 million in the project, which will give volunteer lifesavers more space to support their summer patrols, as well as education and training opportunities as part of the club’s strong commitment to aquatic sports.

It will also provide year-round facilities for Ocean Grove residents and visitors to enjoy.

“This fantastic facility is testament to the community and club working together to ensure the safety of locals and visitors for many years to come,” Ms Neville said.

“The club has been keeping beachgoers safe for the past 70 years and in the past 25 years, club membership has quadrupled.”

Formed in 1948, the Ocean Grove Surf Life Saving Club currently has about 1,000 members, with approximately 350 of those junior or Nipper members.

The new facility replaces the one which was more than 25 years’ old and no longer fit for purpose, which catered for 250 members at the time of construction in 1994.

Ocean Grove’s main beach is patrolled every summer by volunteers from the club.

During the 2018-19 season, lifesavers and lifeguards performed 7,862 preventive actions and 82 first-aid treatments.

In addition to the Labor state government’s investment, Barwon Coast invested $3 million the federal government contributed $1 million, while the City of Geelong provided $150,000.