Tower to rise from sands
New Ocean Grove lifesaving facilities on track for April opening
“We’re still on track to have the patrol tower done midNovember, ready for use for the summer season.” BARWON COAST GENERAL MANAGER, GARY McPIKE
CONSTRUCTION of the patrol tower is the first priority in the multimillion-dollar Ocean Grove Surf Life Saving Club redevelopment.
The site at one of Victoria’s busiest beaches is without a cafe or clubhouse until April while a new facility is established, but Barwon Coast Committee maintains summer patrols will not be affected.
The first sod on the project — which has received more than $5 million in state and federal funding — was turned in May and most of the earthworks are now complete.
Barwon Coast general manager Gary McPike said the plumbing was partially installed and concrete to be poured in the next two weeks.
“We had a bit of a minor delay getting all our permits and stuff in place but it’s full steam ahead,” Mr McPike said.
“We reckon there is still a bit of float in the program (to ensure we deliver on April 9) . . . it might be a week later.
“But we’re still on track to have the patrol tower done mid-November, ready for use for the summer season.”
The OGSLSC is operating from containers at the main beach, and office and storage space at an industrial estate.
“They will have an operational base in the control tower that’s got storage that will allow them to function and do their patrols for the coming season. It’s been a condition of the contract,” Mr McPike said.
In the 2017-18 season, lifesavers and lifeguards did 7862 preventive actions and 82 firstaid treatments.
Volunteers will have greater room to support the summer patrols, storage for equipment and room to conduct training and development when the new facilities are completed.
The club has a membership of about 1000, with a third of those members in the junior and nippers programs.
The project also includes a rebuild of the popular Dunes Cafe, which will increase its capacity by about 50 per cent.
Short Games Pty Ltd, which oversees At The Heads in Barwon Heads, was awarded the 21-year operational lease.
It has ensured there remains a daily foreshore food offering in construction, setting up a renovated shipping container, “KettleFish”, serving takeaway eats and coffee.