The community is divided over the future of the Normanville surf lifesaving club and Kiosk/Café, with petitions launched against proposed design.

Last September the District Council of Yankalilla approved plans for the combined rebuild as part of its Normanville Foreshore and Jetty Caravan Park Masterplan.

It resolved to commit $1.15m to the rebuilding of the Surf Lifesaving Club, with the balance of the $3.5M development to come from government grant funding and the club itself. 

The council will also contribute $1.6m for the rebuild of the Kiosk/Café component and $300,000 for rear access and a shared public toilet facility that will form part of modern, multi-tenant community facility all under one roof.

The project has progressed to the planning stages, with the plans available on the Planning SA website and open for public comment until 16 March.

Opponents of the plan have started a local petition and another on Change.org to protest demolition of a community icon.

Jim and Charmaine Liapis run the Kiosk/Café and say new design will reduce its space and operational efficiency and the services they currently provide. 

According to the petition it will also put at risk their business viability and risk at least 30 local jobs. 

It calls for the council to not combine the two buildings, allowing renovation of the existing Kiosk/Café so it can maintain accessibility for people with mobility issues and those with pets.

“We do not feel a modern two storey glass building, at a cost of millions of dollars to ratepayers, is necessary nor is it good business sense.”

A fly through video of the council’s concept plan can be viewed on YouTube.