Past and present members of the Executive and Building Committee's who helped us to get to this point, join with Club Life Members, Lisa Neville MP, Borough of Queenscliffe representatives and the Life Saving Victoria representatives.
In 2007 the Club released a 10 year strategic plan which included the rebuilding of our Clubhouse, which subsequently resulted in the formation of a Building Committee in 2009.
Since 2009 the Club's Building Committee has been working on behalf of the Executive Committee (and the membership) to undertake a number of complex and lengthy tasks including,
Arranged a meeting to gather members and community ideas / concerns.
Conducted a survey to assess functional / operational requirements.
Developed concepts for financing the project.
Set guidelines for evaluating project options.
Selected a preferred option and test stakeholders response.
Recommended a project brief to the Club's Executive Committee.
Develop a project action and delivery plan for the Membership's endorsement.
Numerous meetings with Council, State Government, Life Saving Victoria and local groups.
Tested a "pop up restaurant" food option.
During this period a number of potential sites for a possible relocation were carefully considered to assist to partly fund the project (if the Club was able to relocate onto a suitable Crown land location and sell our current site).
Although this slowed the process of redevelopment, the possibility of an injection in the vicinity of $ 1 000 000 led to it being seriously considered and investigated.
In July of 2014 we had reached a point where the only viable option was to remain at our current site and subsequently in April 2015 the Borough of Queenscliffe resolved to sell the neighbouring block of leased land (grassed open area at 56 Ocean Road which we have occupied for several decades) for the sum of $ 1.
It had taken significant time and effort to get to this point and it would not have been possible without the efforts of Past President Michael Doery, the previous Building Committee, the previous Executive Committee, the Borough of Queenscliffe Councillors and Staff and Member for Bellarine The Hon Lisa Neville MP.
Since July of last year a small team from the new Building and Executive Committees have been working through the complex sale and land contracts which have a number of complexities built into them to safeguard the Borough's donation so that it ensures the gift remains in our possession for as long as we are undertaking the 'not for profit community service' that we undertake.
There have been numerous discussions, meetings and revisions of documents to ensure that what the Club signs will ensure that we are able to undertake the activities of a Surf Life Saving Club, that there will be an ability to undertake some borrowings and that we can build an appropriate new Clubhouse.
For the last 6 months a small team consisting of Tony Greenway (Honorary Legal Advisor), Chris Harper (Chair, Building Committee) and Ivan St Clair (Chair, Fundraising Committee) have provided me with exceptional advice and support while we have been negotiating with the Borough.
I am delighted to announce that all of the documents for this to occur have been signed by the Club and by the Borough and that we now own 56 Ocean Road, Point Lonsdale.
This now confirms with total certainty that we will be located at 54 - 56 Ocean Road Point Lonsdale. The Building Committee can plan for this and proceed with 100% certainty and the Fundraising Committee can also start the significant task of fundraising with 100% certainty for donors.
I am expecting that 2016 will see a lot of hard work and activity from both of these sub Committee's on behalf of the Executive Committee now that we have 100% surety on our future site. This will also result in all members hearing more from these sub Committee's who have been quietly working away in the background preparing for this day.
It's a great week to be a member of the Point Lonsdale Surf Life Saving Club !
Matthew Ponsford
President
Statements from State and Local Government about today's occasion:
Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water, Lisa Neville
"The Point Lonsdale Surf Life Saving Club has a long association with the area and is integral to the local community."
"The transfer of land is a great achievement for the Point Lonsdale Surf Life Saving Club. Thank you to the members of the taskforce, the Borough of Queenscliffe Council and PLSLSC members for their tireless work."
Borough of Queenscliffe Mayor, Cr Helene Cameron
"Council is delighted to play such a significant role in securing the future of the Point Lonsdale Surf Life Saving Club."
"We simply couldn't enjoy our wonderful coastal lifestyle without the safe patrolling of beaches by the dedicated members and volunteers of the Point Lonsdale Surf Life Saving Club."
