Money for surf clubs

Mayor Cr Laurie Maher has presented Ocean Beach, Umina Beach and Killcare Surf Club with annual donations from Gosford Council.

In a ceremony at Avoca Surf Life Saving Club, each local club received $5000 for funding of life saving services and equipment.

During his presentation, Cr Maher said over 2.2 million people visited local beaches during patrol hours last year

"It's now 22 years since council began annual direct dollar subsidies to surf life saving clubs and we consider these donations a vital investment in the well being and safety of our residents and ever-growing tourist population," Cr Maher said.

Since 1984, when the funding was first introduced by council, annual donations to each club have risen from $1200 to $5000 a year.

Cr Maher said the council and local residents, through rate increases, were continuing to invest in the future of surf life saving through the rebuilding of Ocean Beach, Umina, Copacabana, Killcare and Wamberal Surf Life Saving Clubs, the five remaining clubs within the local government area yet to be refurbished.

Press release, October 26 Marion Newall, Gosford Council