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Budget shortfall could dump BONDI SURF CLUB makeover Waverley Council has unveiled grandiose plans for the upgrading of Bondi Surf Bathers Life Saving Club (BSBLSC). Trouble is, the plans have a budget shortfall of almost $4 million.
Council has entered into a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with the club for a major makeover of the existing heritage-listed club building and construction of a new building at the rear of it. The aim of the work is the creation of a “fit for purpose life saving facility.” According to the council, the work is “desperately” needed to address accessibility challenges, create equal female to male facilities and encourage interaction with the community. The project involves the removal of “bulky mock heritage additions” and temporary work sheds that “detract from the building’s historic value.” The so-called “mock heritage additions” include the terraced area on the first floor of the club and the extensions on each side of the main building, more substantial on the side facing the promenade. Formed in 1907, BSBLSC is officially recognised by Surf Life Saving Australia as the oldest surf lifesaving club in the world. The club building was constructed in 1934 and is set alongside Bondi Pavilion. The plans for its revamp are ambitious ones, offering facilities previously undreamed-of in the Spartan world of surf clubs – a sauna, for instance. Then there will be a club merchandise outlet, surf museum, youth room, and much, much more – $11.4 million more. However, a report tabled at a meeting of Waverley Council held via Zoom revealed that there are currently nowhere near sufficient funds to pay for the project. So the Council and club are holding their hands out to the NSW and federal governments.
“Council’s budget allocation for the BSBLSC Conservation and Upgrade project is currently $4.5 million,” the report states. “BSBLSC is contributing a further $3 million to the project. The total approved funding to date is $7.5 million. BSBLSC will be applying for State and Federal Government funding to cover the projects shortfall of $3.9 million. As per the executed Heads of Agreement, the project will not progress beyond development approval until the project is fully funded.”
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Should dogs off-leash be allowed at Mackenzies Bay, Tamarama?
Councillors have agreed that revisions may be made to the plans subject to consultations with key community stakeholders including Bondi Beach Precinct, Friends of Bondi Pavilion and members of BSBLSC. Convenor of Bondi Beach Precinct, Lenore Kulakauskas, told Eastern Suburbs Life she was very much in favour of the plans. TONY MAGUIRE
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Currently, the Council does not allow dogs at any of Waverley’s beaches and ocean pools though for years dog owners have used the coastal inlet to take their animals off-leash.
Earlier this year, the Council received a petition calling for restrictions on dogs at the location to be lifted. Council resolved to consult with the community to gain a further understanding of the different points of views of residents. Consultation into dogs off-leash at Mackenzies Bay is now open until Sept 20 at haveyoursay.waverley.nsw.gov.au/dogs-off-leash-at-mackenzies-bay. The consultation aims to see whether a dog off-leash area at the location is widely supported by the community, most specifically Tamarama residents. Further aspects for consideration include: • Safety of dogs, dog owners and general public. • Benefits of off-leash dog areas. • Potential impacts of dogs on the local environment. • The location of existing and potential off-leash dog areas. • Supply of facilities such as paths, bins and dog bag dispensers in a front-line coastal area. There are currently eight off-leash parks in the Waverley Council area, including Marks Park, Tamarama where dogs are allowed off-leash between the hours of 4.30-8.30pm daily. To participate in our consultation, visit haveyoursay.waverley.nsw.gov.au/dogs-off-leash-atmackenzies-bay. For a list of where to walk your dog in Waverley, visit waverley.nsw.gov.au/ residents/animal_services/dog_walking_areas
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