Friday, February 14, 2025

Funding rolls in for Albany Surf Club upgrades

The WA Government has announced it will provide an additional $500,000 funding towards the City of Albany Council’s $3.4 million surf club redevelopment project.

The funding boost builds on $1.6 million given to the Council as part of a WA Election commitment.

The redevelopment of the Albany City Surf Life Saving Club’s building will include:

  • relocation of the motorised water safety storage and operations to address current safety risks;
  • creation of an expanded and dedicated lifesaving hub to centralise patrol requirements into a single central location;
  • a new meeting and events facility to support community and club activities; and
  • a new multipurpose training and education space, for club use and to also be available for booking by community members at a minimal cost.

Sport and Recreation Minister, David Templeman said the latest Government funding boost brings the total cost of the surf club redevelopment project to $3.4 million.

Council and the surf club have each agreed to contribute an additional $50,000 on receipt of the latest WA Government contribution.

“Albany Surf Life Saving Club is a much-loved part of the community since 1917 and keeps locals and visitors safe at Middleton Beach, so I’m delighted we can provide $500,000 to tide over this redevelopment project funding shortfall,” said Mr Templeman.

“The Cook Government is proud to fund the expansion of the facility to improve water safety operations through better beach access and new training and education spaces. We endorse the building becoming more available to the general community to make this highly valued service for Albany and the Great Southern even more welcoming.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all the volunteers who devote their time and efforts to surf lifesaving – it’s an integral part of sport and recreation in Western Australia.”

Albany MLA, Rebecca Stephens – a lifelong member of the surf club – said the redevelopment was vital to meet the operational growth of the club.

“The Albany Surf Lifesaving Club is a unique volunteer community organisation with over 500 members that actively patrols our coastlines and provides sport and training opportunities for its members and the wider community,” she said.

“This much needed redevelopment will deliver new education and training facilities, improve the safety and delivery of emergency services, meet the needs of the club’s growing membership numbers and better interaction with our local community.

“I congratulate the committee members who have worked so hard over many years to make this redevelopment a reality.”

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