A project, which was a decade in the making, is being realised at a prominent coastal club.
After protracted legal battles, construction has officially started on a clubhouse for WindanSea Boardriders at Ballinger Park in Currimundi.
Club President and Sunshine Coast Councillor, Terry Landsberg, said he was thrilled that work had begun on the 178m2 venue, with local builder Integrale Homes managing the process.
The club’s application to build a new clubhouse was approved, following a protracted court case.
The Planning and Environment Court rubber-stamped the proposal for the site, despite protests from neighbours who held concerns about noise.
“This is a great result for our members and the broader community including the Caloundra Mal Club, Moffateers, Indigenous Surfing, Disabled Surfing and other local clubs, including the two neighbouring schools,” he said.
“As a club, we’ve never had a space where our members and other community groups can meet to enjoy their passion for surfing as well as other community and environmental pursuits.
“We now have a place where a range of community groups can meet and grow and there will also be opportunities for small operators to run low-impact classes like yoga and Pilates and other community activities.”
Club chairman Don Smith said more than 50 per cent of the club’s membership was juniors, with women and girls representing a growing 20 per cent of membership.
“A further 30 per cent are males aged over 18, so we have a strong young membership base and the clubhouse will help unite and engage the past and present members to support the growing social needs in our local community, particularly with helping to mentor young people,” he said.
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Supporters, including Cr Landsberg, Mr Smith and building representatives, converged on the site on Monday, June 20, to mark the start of the building process.
The clubhouse will be constructed with $140,000 in funding from the Federal Government, $40,000 from a Sunshine Coast Council grant and about $100,000 in pledges for building materials and labour.
More materials and support was still required to complete the project and interested parties can visit the club’s Go Fund Me page or email donsmith1951@gmail.com.
WindanSea Surf Club was founded in 1970.
It has about around 145 members of all ages and abilities and has successfully run the annual Pa and Ma Bendall Memorial Surfing Contest for the past 44 years.
Former world champion Joel Parkinson, long-term world surfing professionals Serena Brooke and Wade Goodall and emerging young professional Reef Heazlewood are current or past club members.
For more information visit: WindanSea Boardriders.
