The Point Leo SLSC has served the community loyally since 1955. In the last decade alone the club has performed approximately 354 First Aids, 5324 Preventative Actions and 33 Rescues with over 50,000 patrol hours completed. The club has a rich history of adapting and changing to best serve the community.
Point Leo Community Hub Facility and Future Vision Update
Following the internal renovation and extension of the building six years ago, made possible through generous support from the State Government, Lifesaving Victoria, Community Bank Balnarring & District Bendigo Bank, which included a significant refurbishment of the toilets, change rooms, downstairs kitchen, and caretaker’s room, the club is now undertaking its most ambitious redevelopment project yet. This initiative aims to ensure the facility remains ‘fit for purpose’ and continues to serve as a vital Community Hub for the Westernport area of the Mornington Peninsula. The brief and details below outline the current status of the four major projects running concurrently.
Project 1 – Disability Egress
As part of the Point Leo SLSC Future Vision and Community Hub, during the course of our surf patrol season the club supports Disabled Surfing Victoria DSAMP (activity days) held at the Point Leo beach. The Surf Life Saving Club facilitates voluntary members time to assist Disability Surfing Victoria with both water safety and carers to ensure that all participants have both a fun and safe day at the beach. Access to the beach has always been limited with the sand and lack of hardstand zones around the current club due to the dunes and overgrowth. There were no outdoor beach showers (on the foreshore) for the participants, their carers and current club members to use that were able to be accessed by people with a disability. We reached out for many corporate grants and were grateful to the Future2 fund for a grant that enabled us to undertake the following:
- Clear and restore the main access ramp to enable participants to access the beach from the carpark
- Install some external beach showers at the current surf club with disabled ramps so participants and their carers can shower post surf activities (see the picture left)
This was a very positive solution for Surf Life Saving volunteers assisting those with a disability. These surf days are amazing, and it enhances the importance of the community role of the surf club to not only save lives of those in the water, but to actively assist the wider community as part of our overall inclusion policies.
Our next phase is to install some hardstand zones around the club and levelling of the current grassed area to create an access friendly activity zone so that participants have area’s to congregate safely.
Project 2 – Emergency Services access road & club carpark
A joint venture project (SLSC and Foreshore) with funding organised through the SLSC.
The local foreshore have recently redeveloped designated areas next adjacent to the current club facility along with updated Lease and Licence arrangements. This has resulted in the club access road now running through a general carpark and a reduced club carpark and emergency access zone. As a club, we’ve installed an automatic gate at the new entry point to ensure access for patrolling members and emergency services. Plans and cost estimates have also been developed to support the redevelopment of this zone.
Project 3 – Storage Lease zones
State Government Agency DECCA have major hurdles in regards to storage of rescue equipment in and around club facilities. To this end we are looking at close by alternatives (eg leasing farm land adjacent or securing unused Road reserve – Seal St (Crown Land)) where we can construct a storage shed. This will assist further building and development applications that fall in line with the Coastal Management Act.
Project 4 – Future Vision – Point Leo SLSC Community Hub
As outlined in the introduction the current majority of the club building is now not fit for purpose. With limited access, no lift and white ant damage, we are progressing along the path of major building redevelopment. We have completed the initial Functional brief (the 1st step in the process) and are currently engaging with Cox Architecture to review and prepare plans for planning applications. Our aim is to address the rebuild with 2 functional options to suit funding opportunities that may be available.
- Option 1 for funding value $5m and Option 2 Overall rebuild process for $15m – Both options are designed to preserve the recently funded amenities—Caretakers’ quarters, Meeting room, and Toilets—from the 2019 refurbishment. Clearly, Option 2 is our preferred choice. However, the design has been created in a way that, if funding is limited, we can still begin the project in a manner that allows future funding and work to seamlessly integrate with the previously completed developments
The key design brief includes
- Functional space and the ability to lock down zones in low traffic times to save costs
- Community spaces to provide separation between general public and users of the facility
- Environmentally conscious planning and design, such as the use of solar cladding (also known as ‘photovoltaic’ cladding), where the façade acts as both an aesthetic feature and a renewable energy source, contributing to high Green Star ratings for new builds
We aim to have all the design and shovel-ready plans completed and on display by December this year—exciting times ahead for the club!
It’s time to play your part in our Future Vision & Community Hub
We would love you to get involved and there are many ways you can support us.
- Fundraise
- Donate online via the club’s payment gateway
- Donate by direct bank transfer to our Point Leo Hub Project account. Please contact club administration via our contact form with Point Leo Hub Project Donation in the subject line for these details.
Point Leo SLSC is an Endorsed Deductible Gift Recipient. Donors please complete the form below with your details so that we can send you a tax receipt once we have received your donation.