Tomorrow is the final day for the community to have its say on the proposed Manly Life Saving Club (LSC), which, despite years of community consultation, remains a hotly debated topic on the shores of South Steyne.
Supporters of the new purpose-built facility, designed to support over 3.5 million annual visitors to Manly Beach, recognise the need for one of our busiest beaches to have a new lifesaving club facility with better storage.
Opponents of the DA say they don’t question the need to upgrade the building but oppose what they see as an intrusion into public open space and question the benefit to the broader community. They ask: why isn’t Council just refurbishing the building?
Behind and across from the clubhouse, “BAD DA” posters appear on nearly every balcony. Many residents will have their views affected by a taller and larger building.
Local residents have put up signs against the development. Image: Kim Smee
The development
The proposed $20 million three-storey development, which increases the overall footprint by approximately 10 percent, will include a ground floor with a large central storage area (rescue and first aid equipment, boats, boards, etc.), and entry foyer facing the beach, a small kiosk, public toilets and change rooms, and lifeguard storage area and additional toilets/change rooms at the far end.
On the first floor, there will be training rooms, a gym, an office, storerooms, a kitchen/bar and a large multi-purpose hall/event space for hire.
On the second floor, there will be lifeguard facilities and a club room with toilets.
The existing three car parking spots will be reduced to two, and there is no enclosed or basement parking within the plans.
“The proposed DA seeks to service the needs of all the diverse user groups within the highly constrained site and provide a modern, fit for purpose facility for the future, inspired by its history and natural sandstone surroundings,” Mayor Sue Heins said in a statement.
“While we don’t currently have the full funds to deliver this project, an approved DA provides many more opportunities to secure additional grant funding to complete the project.”
The DA will ultimately be assessed by the independent Sydney North Planning Panel.
Council said community and stakeholder feedback resulted in some alterations to the original design including improved disability access, wider thoroughfare at the Marine Parade pinch point with additional undercover space on the beachside, better emergency vehicles access and a partial upper floor set back against the cliff face providing Council’s professional lifeguards improved line of sight.
“This isn’t just a clubhouse, it’s a community safety hub and learning space for everyone who loves Manly Beach,” Tim Cuthbert, President of Manly LSC tells Manly Observer.
“Every improvement we’re making directly supports faster responses, better training, and a more inclusive, sustainable community facility.
“Our lifesavers and lifeguards protect locals and visitors alike with more than 10,000 lives saved and not a single drowning during patrol hours in over a century. This redevelopment ensures that legacy continues for the next hundred years.”
“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a fit-for-purpose community building that supports lifesaving, learning and connection – and reflects the heart and spirit of Manly Beach,” Tim adds.
“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a fit-for-purpose community building that supports lifesaving, learning and connection.”
Not everyone is onboard
“With Council submitting a DA that is outside the current building’s footprint, it’s divided the community,” Manly Community Forum chairperson Cathy Griffin said.
“The proposed building intrudes into the public open space unnecessarily.”
Technically, the footprint of the ground floor would increase by 10 percent (plus an additional third level), but the building will move to open up the bottleneck of walkers heading to Shelly Beach. It also moves slightly forward as there is a sewer easement behind the building, which they’re not allowed to rebuild over.
“The new design increases the footprint, which is purely functional,” explains Tim.
“As to move the building slightly north off the rock shelf for the sewer easement, and to open up the pinch point on the Shelly Beach walkway.
“The result is safer public access, better sight lines for lifeguards, and a building that sits more comfortably in the landscape.”
However, Cathy claims Council saying the footprint only increases by 10 per cent is disingenuous. She explains the sewer easement should be included in their additional footprint calculations as it’s unusable public open space. This is a view shared by those who’ve submitted online objections to the development – some saying the increase in footprint is closer to 20 per cent.
“Local residents, who live nearby the SLC, are mainly concerned about the sheer size and bulk of the Club.”
“Local residents, who live nearby the SLC, are mainly concerned about the sheer size and bulk of the Club,” Jeremy Cooper, co-convenor of the South Steyne Heritage Action Group, adds.
“In 2018, a report outlined that it was viable to renovate the Club and would cost around $3.5 million; now, considering the rising construction costs, it would still represent a substantial saving.”
Expansion pack
However, Tim points out that membership has grown 480 percent since the current building was built in the 1980s. In 24/25, there were a total of 1,785 members, up from 1,727 the previous year.
Jeremy claims the Club is barely used during the week and can’t understand the reasoning for the need for a larger building that takes up additional space on the promenade when the main users of that corner are Manly to Shelley Beach walkers, not club members.
Cathy says that while no one questions the need for an upgrade to the Club, it’s on Council and the Club for allowing the building to deteriorate so badly over the years.
As for the event space on the second floor, which Tim assures us is just a nicer version of what is already there and a space for the community to hire, Jeremy is concerned with loud, noisy events happening every weekend so close to residents.
Cathy says the building is the last of the buildings with Manly Council branding which lends itself to the suburb’s history. Image: Kim SmeeTim reiterates the Club is a community facility and nothing extra is being built, just improvements to what they already provide to the community.
“Every dollar invested supports a safer coastline, better training and education, modern public amenities and a new community hub for local residents, the community and groups to enjoy,” he explains.
“Whether it’s yoga, pilates, workshops or meetings, this will be a shared space for everyone in Manly.”
Finally, Cathy is concerned about the history of the building. She says it’s currently one of the last remaining buildings branded in the former Manly Council colours (teal and cream). The new façade is inspired by the banded sandstone cliff faces found throughout the Manly peninsula and has been criticised by opponents for having too much concrete and not blending into the laid-back environment of Manly.
Regular swimmers may be most interested in what the DA holds for new public amenities – and in particular showers.
The public facilities currently show four toilets and an open shower in each of the public male and female amenities, plus a family change room and unisex facilities.
Even if the DA is approved, there’s still the issue of funding
The build will cost around $20 million, and Council has said they do not have any additional funds to contribute to the build despite the increase in residents’ rates earlier this year.
“Previously, we secured $5 million from Council which is in our accounts, and then we’ve been able to secure $5 million from Federal government and $1 million from State government. So that puts us at $11 million,” Tim explains.
“Because it’s taken so long, the expected cost has gone up to $19 million and once and if the DA is approved, we will look at grant applications, sponsorships, and fundraising.”
At the time of publication, there were over 500 submissions to the DA, which will be assessed by the Sydney North Planning Panel.
The exhibition period closes on 17 November. All documentation is available on the DA portal.
