Committee For Lorne: Lorne Aquatic and Angling Club

An update on design of new club

The Committee of the Lorne Aquatic & Angling Club (LAAC) is working closely with Great Ocean Road Coast Committee (GORCC) to ensure the new club facilities to be incorporated into the proposed redevelopment of the Point Grey precinct will meet the Club’s and the Community’s needs well into the future.

In the latest plan for Point Grey, commissioned by GORCC, there will be a new clubhouse of 235 square metres which is larger than the current building.

The new building will address current and future accommodation needs and must be compliant with relevant building and design codes.

In order to make this new building compliant with the Building Code of Australia (BCA), the LAAC architects recommended an increase in building floorplan from the current 155 square metres to 235 square metres. The principal reasons were to address the specific needs for a proper kitchenette, liquor control requirements and updated toilet facilities to meet current standards.

If the building had remained at 155 square metres then, after incorporating required design for bar facilities and toilet facilities, including disabled access, the lounge area would have been limited to 10 square metres, less than the size of a normal bedroom!

The Department of Environment, Land, Water & Planning (DELWP), the land owner, has asked GORCC to justify the proposed increase in area. The LAAC Committee has responded to DELWP’s request:

The current building, which was in fact part of the Gracedale guest house, which was located on the site of the Senior Citizens and Lorne Community House, has served the LAAC members and the Lorne community with distinction for the past 60 years, but now has outgrown itself and cannot cater for today’s needs of the community and a Club membership of 680, in a safe and healthy environment.”

This statement formed part of our submission to DELWP and was accompanied by supporting letters from a large number of Lorne committees and community groups.

The LAAC is a community space which is used for:

• ARTS – Lorne Sculpture Biennale, Festival of Performing Arts.
• EDUCATION – Lorne P-12 College fishing programs, Snorkelling/ Rock Pool Rambles, Boat Rescue, Victorian Fisheries, Marine Radio Base.
• SPORTING – Pier to Pub, Mountain to Surf Run, Fishing competitions, Visiting sport groups- Cycling, Swimming, Football etc.
• SOCIAL – family reunions, birthdays, wakes, work break ups, pre/post wedding activities and a wide range of local and wider community uses.

Even now, some days it can be quite a squeeze as it is and for the future needs of a modern community facility to be met, the larger area is essential.

Let me stress, whilst we are seeking an increase in size for the new clubhouse, the actual size of the area we lease at Point Grey is to be reduced in size.

We are seeking broad community support for our increased size as recognised by GORCC. If they are behind us on this, we hope everybody else will be too.

Keith Miller
Commodore
Lorne Aquatic & Angling Club