The District Council of Yankalilla has approved plans for the combined rebuild of the Normanville Surf Lifesaving Club and its café/kiosk as part of Normanville Foreshore and Jetty Caravan Park Masterplan.

At a special meeting last week, the council voted to co-fund redevelopment of the popular foreshore facilities and take the project to the planning and tender stages. 

The vote was tight, five to four, with Councillors Christie, Quirke, Verwey and Spilsbury wanting a decision delayed.

Many details, including potential relocation of the surf club and kiosk operations during the rebuild remain to be determined.

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

It will also contribute $1.6m towards rebuilding the kiosk/café component and $300,000 for rear access and a shared public toilet facility. 

“This is a timely and considered investment in our community that will bring economic stimulus and job opportunities whilst positioning our community as a highly-attractive place to live, work, visit and invest in,” Mayor Simon Rothwell says. 

“The support we have received from local residents who understand the foundations we are laying here for the future has been overwhelming.” 

The leadership of the Normanville Surf Life Saving Club made an impassioned plea for council funding support, highlighting their vision for the club’s future.

They want it to be a centre for surf lifesaving excellence and realise its significant potential as a contemporary community venue for local residents and visitors. 

District Council of Yankalilla CEO Nigel Morris says the Surf Life Saving Club leadership is very much on the same page as the council as far the vision for the site is concerned.

“This major infrastructure upgrade will propel the club to new heights in every way and we look forward to bringing the project to fruition for the benefit of the local community,” he says. 

“We are investing in local people and making our community a better place to live in whilst also helping to reduce the rates burden through income generation.” 

Key to the success of the project is the balance between the three tenancies that will share the new combined facility. 

The council’s next steps are to determine the makeup of the future leases of the building, which will include upfront costs, annual leases, length of tenure, layout and areas under lease. 

“We will seek to confirm (in the planning stages) the ultimate configuration of the tenancies – and the kiosk and restaurant components in particular – to ensure the best outcome for tenants, users and of course, the 5500 rate-payers who are ultimately co-funding this development,” Mr Morris says. 

“Consultation with existing tenants is ongoing and we are confident we will deliver an outcome that works for all existing or future partners, also taking into account that that the new facility should not detract from the many other eateries in and around Normanville.” 

“These projects are always bigger than their physical footprint.”

The Normanville Foreshore and Jetty Caravan Park Masterplan includes the rebuild of the surf club and kiosk, carparking, green space, nature playground, dune restoration, beach interface, jetty and caravan park upgrades. 

Full details of the Masterplan, including a video walkthrough, are on the council website.

Normanville SLSC president Dave Jansen.