Bundaberg Region Mayor Jack Dempsey has flagged that Council’s 2021-22 Budget will include support for a new Moore Park Surf Life Saving Club building.
Mayor Dempsey said Council was looking to contribute a significant amount to kickstart implementation of the Moore Park Beach Masterplan.
The Council contribution would deliver community facilities for the clubhouse which would be constructed with an $800,000 contribution from the Surf Life Saving Queensland Infrastructure Fund and $400,000 which was previously committed by the Federal Government.
Mayor Dempsey said Council’s proposed funding, to be confirmed in the budget meeting on June 29, would deliver public facilities to complement the new clubhouse.
“Council is looking at how it can support local surf lifesavers and the wider Moore Park Beach community by delivering the landscaping that surrounds the new surf club, which would include a driveway and small carpark as well as footpaths and new gardens,” he said.
“Public toilets would also be featured as part of the design for beach-goers to utilise.
“We are committed to supporting the club with their new venture, which will not only offer a new space for members to conduct their training, meetings and more, it will also become a great asset for the community as a whole.”
President of Moore Park Life Saving Club Leigh Schuch said members were excited to begin work on the new clubhouse.
“The new clubhouse will provide an up-to-date facility for the volunteer members of all ages to use for training, storage of lifesaving equipment, amenities and canteen facility in addition to having adjoining public amenities for the public to use,” Leigh said.
“It is hoped that the new facility will attract new members to the club to help keep the beach-going public safe.”
Leigh said plans for a new clubhouse had been on the cards for some time.
“The current building received significant damage in 2010 and we have been trying to secure funding ever since then,” she said.
Divisional representative Cr Jason Bartels said Council was investigating ways to assist the Surf Life Saving Club to create a facility that aligned with the newly adopted Moore Park Beach Masterplan.
“We want to help create a great community space and something the Moore Park Beach community can be proud of,” he said.
“The new clubhouse is a very exciting project as it is the very first stage of the Moore Park Beach Masterplan and will include a number of works that will benefit members and beach-goers alike.
“This includes a community deck proposed within the masterplan and improved amenities for the mobile food and coffee vendors that currently service the site.”
Leigh said the new clubhouse would be located where the original building was situated when Moore Park Surf Life Saving Club was established in 1954.
“It is hoped to be completed by the end of June 2022 depending on the building situation in Bundaberg,” she said.
