Council pledges $200,000 for emergency erosion repairs at Denmark Surf Life Saving Club

A $200,000 lifeline will help the crumbling Denmark Surf Life Saving Club survive the winter as the Shire of Denmark holds out hope for Federal Government funding for long-term upgrades to the Ocean Beach precinct.

Above-average rainfalls and harsh winter swells have pounded Denmark’s Ocean Beach precinct, forcing the evacuation of equipment from the Denmark Surf Live Saving Club, damaging paths and putting parts of the original surf club building at risk.

On Tuesday, the Shire of Denmark council adopted its 2021-22 budget allocating $200,000 towards immediate and short-term remediation works to prevent “irreparable damage”.

In May, the council adopted its Ocean to Channel concept plan, which includes plans for the construction of a new surf club base further back from the water.

Shire director of assets and sustainable development David King said the Shire was working with a coastal engineer to figure out the next steps.

“We’re expecting continued wet weather and heavy coastal conditions in the coming months and this allocation of funds through the annual budget process means we’ll have funds available to cover any urgent and short-term works which are required,” he said.

“Things seem to have settled down after the work which has already been done at the site but we need the infrastructure to survive the remainder of winter and spring before we can get to work on longer-term fixes.

“We are also waiting on news of our application to the Building Better Regions Fund which, if successful, will provide us with funds to progress longer-term plans for the site.”