Council budgets $306,000 for surf championships

Gosford Council has decided to budget $306,000 to support a bid to host the 2013 and 2014 NSW Surf Life Saving Championships at Umina.

Umina has been shortlisted as one of three potential venues for the championships.

The council was told the event was expected to attract 8000 competitors, 600 officials and 12,000 spectators a day, across a seven day period with an estimated $18 million value for the host region.

The event has previously been held at Umina in 2005.

Surf Life Saving NSW told the council that a minimum hosting fee of $65,000, plus GST and CPI, would be required to fund the NSW Surf Life Saving Championships each year.

In addition to the hosting fee, Council would have to provide in kind support of $100,000 per year including a number of vehicles, daily waste removal, message board, council barriers and signage and sufficient lighting for the area.

It would also include beach grading, electricity and plumbing upgrades, beach access upgrades, installation and removal of fencing, lighting of a compound area and the provision of a standby generator.

The services of vehicle drivers, an electrician, a plumber and a surveyor were also included.

Council's support is subject to a financial support of $12,000 a year from Central Coast Tourism.

The remaining funding for the 2013 championships would be sourced through a budget review with 2014 funding requested as a project in the 2013-2014 Capital Works Program.

Gosford Council Agenda CIT.34, 13 Dec 2011