Council is committed to supporting the renewal and upgrade of the North Cronulla Surf Life Saving Club. North Cronulla Surf Life Saving Club has been a vital part of the community for close to 100 years, providing essential volunteer lifesaving patrols, development of competition skills and members' fitness, training, and education services.
62 Prince Street, Cronulla
Project Background
In 2021, Council supported an application from North Cronulla Surf Lifesaving Club (NCSLSC) for renewal and upgrade of our surf club building at North Cronulla Beach. Council resolved to guarantee a loan for the Club to redevelop the facility.
In addition to the loan, the Club also secured grant funding from both the State and Federal Government, as well as Council, to contribute to the renewal of this Council asset.
In 2022, the Club started the redevelopment of their clubhouse facilities. Work on the project has since been temporarily suspended.
As a major stakeholder in this project, we are liaising closely with club management to ensure a quality facility is delivered that responds to the changing needs of our local community.
We recognise the strong value that our local surf lifesaving clubs bring to our community by providing a much-valued sporting and social outlet for club members. They also play a pivotal role in keeping millions of visitors to our beaches safe each year. That’s why we are committed to working with NCSLSC management to ensure this community asset is completed in a timely and financially responsible way.
We will provide further updates on this webpage as the project progresses.
Why did construction stop?
The builder engaged by NCSLSC for the construction work left the site in late January 2024 and did not return to complete the work.
With intent to progress the project, NCSLSC issued a ‘Notice to Take Works’ to the builder in May 2024 allowing the Club to seek and engage a new builder to complete the work. However, the club faced further challenges resulting in the project being temporarily suspended.
What is Council's role now?
Council has acknowledged the Club’s request for assistance and recognises that they cannot deliver the redevelopment.
To support the community services and amenities that are provided through this redevelopment, Council has approved to take-over and complete the project.
We are exploring all options as we move towards taking over the redevelopment project to ensure this valuable community asset is back in use sooner rather than later.
What is happening next?
Council has been working hard behind the scenes to progress the project.
Clean up of the site has been undertaken as we prepare for the next phase.
Last year, we issued an expression of interest to the building industry and received promising responses. We also commissioned detailed site assessments to inform the future scope of work. Once complete, we'll engage a qualified builder and map out a construction timeline.
We're also seeking community feedback on a proposal to reclassify the land, to ensure the project proceeds with greater certainty and at no net cost to ratepayers.
We're strongly committed to ensuring a quality and functional facility is delivered in a timely, sustainable and financially responsible way.
Project Scope
The scope of work for the North Cronulla Surf Life Saving Club redevelopment is to complete construction of the new facility, which includes:
- improved public amenities,
- Improved lifeguard facilities
- storage areas
- a new kiosk and restaurant.
The redevelopment aims to create a dynamic and functional facility that will meet the ongoing needs of our community.
FAQs
Work on site will resume once a builder has been engaged to complete the project.
Once we engage a suitably qualified builder, we will work with our construction partner to develop a detailed delivery programme for the project.
We will continue to provide updates as the project progresses to keep our community informed about the work.
Yes, all facilities currently available around the site will remain available for the duration of the project.
The Esplanade will remain open for our community, however, there may be times throughout the project that access in the immediate vicinity may be interrupted to allow for heavy vehicle access of specialised work. If this is ever the case, we will ensure appropriate plans are in place to provide advance warning for locals and visitors to the area.
We don’t anticipate there will be any disruption to the use of this much-loved playground that was recently delivered by Council for our community.
We’re committed to ensuring the redevelopment of the site (including club facilities, restaurant and kiosk) is completed at no net cost to ratepayers. Your elected Councillors recently approved the use of funds from the Strategic Priorities Reserve towards the project and we are working through options to ensure that the overall cost of the project is recovered. We will also work with other funding partners, including State and Federal Governments, to ensure that existing grant funding is available when required. Council’s previous financial involvement included making actual contributions towards the project and also as acting as guarantor on a $5.3 million loan to NCSLSC.
Council is proposing to amend the Sutherland Shire Local Environmental Plan (LEP) 2015 to reclassify North Cronulla Surf Lifesaving Club (NCSLSC) from ‘Community Land’ to ‘Operational Land’.
A reclassification of land will have significant community benefit as it will enable an important community funded project delivering improved lifesaving services to proceed with greater certainty.
‘Operational Land’ classification is deemed more appropriate as it will enable a greater level of flexibility for Council to support Club needs as well as those of the recreational precinct and deliver a facility that meets current and future needs of the broader community at no net cost to ratepayers.
The decision to proceed with the reclassification process was made by Council in July 2024 under Council Resolution COR031-24 and we are seeking feedback from our community between 31 March until 2 May 2025, on this proposal. Following the community consultation process, Council will review and consider all feedback and if the proposal is supported it will be referred to the Department of Planning Housing and Infrastructure for Gateway Determination. Following that, the LEP will be amended, and the land classified as Operational Land.
The proposed reclassification will not impact Dunningham Park playground.
For more information on the Reclassification, visit Council's website, Draft LEP 2015 Amendment - Reclassification of North Cronulla Surf Lifesaving Club | Join the Conversation - Sutherland Shire Council