Community
4 October, 2026
Liberals pledge $10mil for surf club
WARRNAMBOOL Surf Life Saving Club will get its long-awaited redevelopment if the Liberals are elected to govern next month.
Speaking from the Warrnambool foreshore on Wednesday, Member for South West Coast Roma Britnell said a Liberal government would deliver the long-awaited facility, pledging $10 million to fund the project.
“If elected, we will fund a new, fit-for-purpose facility to replace the ageing and inadequate clubrooms,” Ms Britnell said.
“This redevelopment will provide Warrnambool’s life saving volunteers with the modern facilities they need to patrol the beach, respond to emergencies and continue training generations of young people in water safety.”
This commitment comes after years of advocacy from the club, which has actively campaigned for redevelopment funding through annual state budget applications for years.
Backed by overwhelming community support, the club has updated its Precinct Master Plan as of March 2026, finalised its business case, and prepared a concept design; rendering the project shovel-ready for construction.
The current facility presents significant operational challenges, including restricted visibility of the beach, congested emergency access and conflicts between lifesaving operations, pedestrians and cyclists.
The new facility would transform those operations by delivering improved beach surveillance, dedicated patrol areas, first-aid facilities, suitable equipment storage and modern change rooms.
“This project is a critically overdue investment in a club that punches well above its weight,” Ms Britnell said.
“The Warrnambool Surf Life Saving Club is a decorated regional powerhouse, recently recognised as the 2025 Victorian Surf Life Saving Club of the Year and a national finalist.
“Approaching its centenary, the club has grown to 850 members and successfully hosted the Victorian State Championships for 13 consecutive years, making it a major contributor to local tourism.”
Ms Britnell believes the club’s volunteers have waited long enough.
“The community’s overwhelming support was proven last year when a grassroots campaign raised $67,000 over the three-day May Racing Carnival.
“With an application submitted in March 2026 to designate this a state significant project, a Liberal government will back this shovel-ready initiative and deliver a facility worthy of Warrnambool’s magnificent foreshore.”
Beyond emergency operations, the redevelopment will create a facility the entire community can embrace.
The vision includes a superb base for a restaurant alongside function and reception facilities, creating a destination that showcases extraordinary views across the coastline.
The Warrnambool Surf Life Saving Club stands as one of the region’s greatest volunteer organisations.
Annually, it trains 270 Nippers and 80 new Bronze/Surf Rescue Certificate candidates, while running vital community programs like Brophy Youth Surf therapy and producing national elite iron-level competitors.
Ms Britnell believes this redevelopment would ensure those volunteers had facilities worthy of the work they do for decades to come.
“This is our commitment to deliver an iconic new facility that Warrnambool can genuinely be proud of; a landmark on our foreshore that serves our lifesavers, our community and our visitors.
“Our surf lifesavers give their time to keep our community and visitors safe. They should not be expected to operate from an outdated facility that restricts their view of the beach and makes emergency access more difficult.
“Our vision is bigger than simply replacing a clubhouse. We want to create a magnificent community facility that makes the most of this extraordinary location, with opportunities for hospitality, functions and community events overlooking one of the state’s most spectacular coastlines.”
Ms Britnell believes the club represents “everything that is good about volunteering” – people giving their time, developing our young people and looking after others.
