Champion Bay SLSC president slams Geraldton council decision to approve policy blocking foreshore development

Champion Bay Surf Life Saving Club president Peter Nelson has hit out at the Geraldton council’s decision to approve a policy which blocks development on the foreshore and signalled their intention to continue fighting for new facilities. Policy 1.5 was carried 10-0 by councillors at last month’s ordinary council meeting. That’s despite the objections from Champion Bay SLSC, who want to build a permanent facility where their current base sits. Mr Nelson said he made a direct plea to each councillor to support and assist the Champion Bay SLSC in moving the project forward, but all voted not to amend the current foreshore policy document. “It is unfortunate that the current councillors will not honour a previous commitment by past councils to allow the Champion Bay SLSC to build permanent club facilities on the foreshore,” he said. Work on a design for a new facility is in progress, however, Mr Nelson said these were not expected to be ready to present to council until February. The club may need to reduce the level of services and activities their volunteers provide to the council and the Geraldton community. “The club volunteers are very disappointed that the councillors have chosen not to support the club’s efforts either financially or with their actions,” he said. This season club volunteers have trained more than 60 teachers and carers in community surf rescue techniques, conducted the Midwest Nippers Surf Carnival for more than 200 nippers and started the Champion Bay Dolphins, a special needs children’s program in conjunction with Variety Midwest. “We have provided water safety and training to multiple school groups, maintained the beach access matting, and assisted the council with the Beach Wheelchair Access program,” Mr Nelson said. Mr Nelson said the club planned to launch a petition on Australia Day demonstrating to council the level of community support for a permanent base in its current operational area of the foreshore. However, City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn claims the club have never provided so much as a drawing or a plan of what they want to achieve to council. “They’ve only given a verbal presentation of their plans and that was for a two-storey building of a 500sqm base located on the ocean side of the footpath down at their current location,” he said. Mr Van Styn said the significant building would block views and harm the vista on the foreshore. “The city has also spoken to them about alternate locations such as in the yarning circle located some 30m away to which the club rejected, which is disappointing,” he said.