BEACH BOOST: Lorne surf club drawing up clubhouse makeover

LORNE Surf Life Saving Club is planning a revamp of its clubhouse that it says will bolster the town’s lifesaving services for years to come.

New Lorne SLSC president Nick Newton said the club hoped to have final plans ready for approval from land managers within “six to nine months” as it begins preliminary discussions about the scope of its renovation.

The club said its redevelopment would continue supporting its growing member base, Nippers program and lifesaving competitors while providing a safer coast for locals and visitors.

“Our focus is keeping the beach safe,” Mr Newton said.

“Visitation to our beach has been increasing quite significantly.

It’s a big responsibility and one we approach with a high degree of commitment.

“We see our role as being able to provide a safe beach for everybody who visits Lorne over the seasonal period… our patrolling members are very committed to delivering that.

“That requires a clubhouse with the right resources and equipment.”

Mr Newton, who took over the club’s reins in July, said the project would focus on internal improvements to the existing building with a small increase to its overall footprint.

“The focus is on maximising the space that we have in a configuration to accommodate more lifesaving equipment, and create some space downstairs particularly for extra training facilities and an improved first aid room, which is critically important.”

The club would also relocate administration facilities downstairs to maximise dining and events space at the existing clubhouse.

Mr Newton said planning for the redevelopment would be done in-house using the expertise of club members.

Once plans are finalised, Lorne SLSC intends to present them to land managers including the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority (GORCAPA) for approval, before considering cost and funding for the build.

“At the point where we have our plan developed and we’ve undertaken the process of consultation with our members and the community, we will then start a discussion with GORCAPA about the redevelopment and the form that it takes,” Mr Newton said.

“We don’t foresee or anticipate any insurmountable issues or problems, because at the end of the day we’re a community-based operation; our predominant activity is lifesaving,” he said.

Mr Newton said he anticipated the club would make a “significant contribution” from its own fundraising streams towards the project, and that the club would discuss further funding avenues with government figures once it was shovel-ready.

Lorne SLSC’s last major redevelopment was finished in 2000, when the third and present version of its clubhouse opened.