Following much deliberation and debate, Kiama Council have reallocated their current budget to approve a collaborative, yet conditional partnership, with Gerringong Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC). 

The Council will fund $370,00 for the Club to bail them out of a costly mess following detection of asbestos contaminated material at the site where a new state-of-the-art building is being planned. 

Kiama Council approved development of the new building at South Werri Reserve in April 2023. However, it was done so under no expectations for financial support beyond the minimal yearly contributions Gerringong SLSC already receive from Kiama Council.

“We receive an annual grant of about $1,000 for our Christmas patrolling,” said Vice President, Richard Payne. “This equates to about half a rescue board or a third of a defibrillator. And then we also get a grant every three years of about $7,000. That is about a third of a rubber ducky and about a quarter of the ATV that we need to get up and down the beach. We have to do all of our fundraising for all of our gear.”

Development of the new facility was initially anticipated to come to fruition utilising $5.5 million funding through the Australian Government Priority Community Infrastructure Program and an additional $490,000 sourced from NSW Government under the Surf Club Facility program.

However, the project ran into financial difficulties when the former dilapidated clubhouse was demolished. Asbestos was discovered in early January 2024. This resulted in urgent removal of 1031 tonnes of contaminated materials in alignment with strict government legislation.

This left a shortfall of approximately $470,000 for management and disposal of material that no amount of community fundraising, sausage sizzles and raffles could possibly fund.

“Over a thousand tonnes of material at $260 a tonne is a lot of material to transport to an approved waste facility,” Gerringong’s SLSC President, Gary George, said. “There are disposal costs, tip costs, transport costs, hygienist costs, the capping layer costs. We had to import 760 tonnes of weathered sandstone from a quarry to cap it.” 

Gerringong SLSC estimated an additional $420,000 was required to complete necessary decontamination, rehabilitation and re-design works. With a meagre contingencies allowance of $50,000, it was requested that Kiama Council fund the remaining $370,000 to bring this long-awaited dream to life. 

Following deliberation regarding funding at the Public Access Forum on 18 March, motion was passed at the Council Ordinary Meeting the following evening. However, the decision was not unanimous. Councillors Jodi Keast, Kathy Rice and Karen Renkema-Lang voted against, citing concerns over Kiama Council’s own financial situation. 

A request was made for deferment to allow for negotiation with various partners and delivery of funding for previously approved projects that may now be put on the backburner until the 2024/25 budget. 

However, with a final vote of 5-3, the requests and cautions were overridden. 

According to the President Gary George additional funding requirements became exorbitant largely due to essential additional excavation to ensure all contaminated materials were removed. 

“Hygienists are pretty non-negotiable when they give you instructions of what needs to be done on site,” he said. “Such measures ensure the site poses no threat to public safety.”

Another consideration behind the funding decision is the lifesaving contribution Gerringong SLSC makes to the community. A lifeline they in turn will offer to the community when summer temperatures bring droves of swimmers back to beaches between North Werri and Shoalhaven Heads.

“We do about 560 hours of patrol a season, which averages out to be about 70 per member. We have done about 25 rescues in this surf season alone.”

Councillor Mark Croxford applauded the Club’s service to the community and lifesaving role and said it would have been “morally reprehensible” for the Council to refuse funding. 

“They rescue people from the ocean who are in trouble,” he said. “They also form a very important part of their local community, where so many people come together and share stories. That sense of community saves lives.”