A clubhouse that will soon be a major hub for the Caloundra surfing community is finally nearing completion – but not before one final hurdle.
The clubhouse is almost a decade in the making for a historic boarding club that hosts the much-loved Pa and Ma Bendall Memorial Contest every Easter long weekend.
Located on Buderim Street at Currimundi, the Windansea Boardriders Club’s clubhouse will be a shared space where members and the wider community can meet to enjoy a love of surfing.
It is hoped the new clubhouse will stimulate a range of activities for current and future members.
The volunteer management committee includes representatives from Windansea, the Disabled Surfers Association, Indigenous Surfers Chapter, Women on the Water, the Moffateers and the Caloundra Malibu Club.
Windansea president Terry Landsberg said the club hoped to see the space operational by May, with finishing touches now being put on the facility.
However, it hasn’t all been smooth sailing after a protracted court case in 2020, following complaints from a group of neighbours who held concerns about noise.
The Planning and Environment Court eventually rubber-stamped the proposal and construction began on the site in June 2022.
“It’s a long road that it’s taken us to actually get to this stage and it’s thanks to the wonderful achievement of so many volunteers and sponsors of the club that have stepped up,” Mr Landsberg said.
“We’re starting to complete the operational works and landscaping around the outside and we’re currently in the process of painting the building inside and out.”
Mr Landsberg said flooring, air-conditioning and solar panels still needed to be installed, however, due to the increased cost of materials and having to fund its own legal fees the money pool had run dry.
The club was now hoping one final fundraising push and the generosity of the community would help put these last pieces in place.
Windansea estimates its volunteer builders need $20,000 to complete the project.
As well as online donations, the club will be fundraising during the Pa and Ma Bendall contest from April 7 to 9.
“The construction industry has seen a huge increase in costs, and obviously we had to fund our own costs during the Planning and Environment Court (case),” Mr Landsberg said.
“We’re hoping for an opening date in the middle of May, but will depend on funding to obviously finish it off.”
Mr Landsberg said the club was also hoping to be fully sustainable and planned to apply for a grant for battery storage so that it could offset electricity costs.
Local surfers Bruce McKean and Greg Minert formed Windansea Caloundra in 1970, following in the footsteps of the Moffateers and the Caloundra Boardriders Club.
Today the club has more than 170 members, plus a social and life member group. More than 50 per cent of the club’s membership is juniors, with women and girls representing more than 20 per cent of total membership.
The club has a young membership base and actively encourages youths and females to be more active.
To donate to the project via bank transfer visit windanseaboardriders.com.au.
Local journalists supporting local people. Help keep independent and fair Sunshine Coast news coming by subscribing to our free daily news feed. All it requires is your name and email. See SUBSCRIBE at the top of this article.
