Surf clubs now to be refurbished

Gosford Council has announced that it will renege on its plans to rebuild local surf clubs, and will refurbish them instead.

But the surf clubs have reacted positively to the plans.

Representatives from both Peninsula clubs have said that refurbishing the clubs will be of more benefit and make better use of funding than to completely rebuild them.

Both clubs are to be gutted and refurbished inside and out.

Both Ocean Beach and Umina Surf Life Saving Club buildings were originally meant to be rebuilt with funding from an extraordinary rate rise which Gosford Council asked from ratepayers in 2002.

Acting president of Umina Beach Surf Club Andy Wing said that under the current plans the surf club would basically get a full reconstruction.

He said that the existing club would be virtually gutted, leaving only the brick shell.

"It will involve major works on the four exteriors, a new roof, new internal extension," he said.

"We will get better value from these plans than if we rebuilt the surf club completely."

The plans, on show at the club, include a paved covered verandah, having the toilets moved and better disabled facilities.

Mr Wing said that the surf club would still be functional once the renovations begin.

"We will be able to maintain a lock up of equipment, and we will have enough facilities to keep going during the off season," he said.

David Unger from Ocean Beach Surf Club said that his clubhouse would be similarly refurbished, rather than rebuilt, to most efficiently use the funding from the rate rise.

"We will have the top half knocked down with the bottom half gutted and rebuilt."

The increase in rates to pay for the developments was an average of $23 a year.

The increase would pay for the new multi-purpose Woy Woy aquatic centre and basketball stadium, as well as six new surf club buildings including two on the Peninsula.

The Woy Woy aquatic centre was expected to cost $17 million and the surf club buildings $6 million.

Alison Branley, February 6