Beachgoers and volunteer lifesavers across the Tweed will benefit from more than $248,000 worth of upgrades to two local surf clubs through the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government’s Surf Club Facility Program.
Member for Tweed Geoff Provest said the funding is aimed at improving facilities to support lifesavers in their vital role of keeping the community safe.
“Our surf clubs are an essential part of the fabric of the Tweed community and I’m so pleased to announce upgrades for the Cudgen Headland and Fingal Rovers Surf Life Saving Clubs,” Mr Provest said.
“Throughout the past 12 months of flooding many of our clubs assisted greatly in the response and recovery efforts. I know this investment will be a huge boost to our hard-working volunteers who do so much on and off the beach.”
Minister for Sport Alister Henskens said the Surf Club Facility Program aims to create more modern, accessible facilities and to ensure lifesavers have what they need to keep the community safe on our beaches.
“Surf clubs are at the heart of coastal communities and the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government is investing in them to ensure they remain an integral part of local communities,” Mr Henskens said.
Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience Steph Cooke said the Surf Club Facility Program provides grants of between $50,000 and $650,000 to develop facilities that will boost participation, increase usage and improve safety.
“This funding will make sure our volunteer lifesavers have fit-for-purpose facilities to operate out of, as well as making sure the Tweed community has modern, safe and secure hubs to utilise,” Ms Cooke said.
Surf Life Saving NSW President George Shales said ensuring surf clubs across NSW are maintained and upgraded is vitally important.
“Our volunteers deserve safe, accessible, and secure facilities in order to train new lifesavers and support the community, and these upgrades will provide just that,” Mr Shales said.
Projects receiving funding through the Surf Club Facility Program include:
| Club | Funding | Description |
| Cudgen Headland Surf Life Saving Club | $194,980 | This project will replace the entire roof on the clubhouse building to ensure compliance with Australian Standards. The existing clubhouse was built in the 1960s and the current roof is approximately 20 years old. |
| Fingal Rovers Surf Life Saving Club | $53,162 | This project will fix an upper-level water leak into the first aid room of the clubhouse, as well as upgrade the garage facilities. The current garage door is not keeping gear and equipment safe from theft and vandalism. |