Proposed Building for Bronte Surf Club 2023

BRONTE AND TAMARAMA ADVANCEMENT SOCIETY [Est. 1971]
PO Box 567, Charing Cross, Bronte Road, Waverley
August 2023

Dear General Manager and Councillors of Waverley Municipal Council,

I hope this finds you well.

Subject: Proposed Building for Bronte Surf Club (BSC)

We are writing to formally object to the proposed expansion of the community-owned building for the Bronte Surf Club (BSC) on Bronte Park. We have recently obtained preliminary plans for the two buildings and reserve the right to provide further comments once full details regarding costs and the contribution from Waverley Council/ratepayers are available.

Regarding the Proposal:

The council’s plan involves demolishing the current community-owned building for BSC and constructing a new one, primarily funded by Waverley Council/ratepayers on Bronte Park, an alcohol-free zone. Our objections focus on the proposed expansion, which includes:

1. A public amenity building designed for peak demand.
2. A larger two-story structure for BSC, featuring:
   • Ground floor: Clubrooms and retail space.
   • Second floor: A commercial area designed to function as a beachside tavern with a bar, cool room, and kitchen (to which we strongly object).

Preamble:

The proposed BSC building is an unnecessary and overly ambitious expansion of an already generous facility. It increases the building’s site coverage and floor space ratio (FSR), adding bulk to Bronte Park and Beach. We find it outrageous that Waverley Council/ratepayers are expected to primarily fund this grandiose expansion, especially when BSC’s role is diminished by the presence of professional lifeguards who patrol daily from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., compared to the weekend-only patrols of volunteer club members.

We estimate the total cost of the proposed BSC building to be over $15 million. The demolition and construction process will cause significant and unjustified damage and disruption to park and beach users, as well as pedestrians using the popular coastal walk. The current plans do not show how or where council plans to redirect the busy walkway and stairs during this period.

Additional Concerns:

1. The proposal for Waverley Council/ratepayers to fund the expansion on Crown Land needs explanation, especially given that professional lifeguards already provide safety on Waverley’s beaches.
2. The ever-present board riders contribute significantly to public water safety, but their role is conveniently ignored by both BSC and the council.
3. The BSC plan proposes moving council lifeguards from their ideal ground-floor location to a poorly designed, cave-like space created by demolishing the historic coastal walk stairway. This is irrational and dangerous, giving the misleading impression that BSC is the primary provider of water safety at Bronte Beach.

Proposed Changes to Bronte Park Plan of Management:

We request that the council amend the Bronte Park Plan of Management to restrict the size and floor space of park buildings to their existing dimensions. This would help protect Bronte Park and Beach from overdevelopment and commercial exploitation.

Summary of Our Objections:

1. BSC’s needs can be accommodated by a well-designed single-story building.
2. The second story is excessive and proposes a tavern on Crown Land, which conflicts with the area’s alcohol-free status.
3. The construction process will cause significant disruption to park and beach users, as well as coastal walkers.
4. A viewing deck on the roof is unnecessary, as public walkways already provide panoramic views.
5. The concrete buttresses extending onto Bronte Beach are an outrageous addition.

We believe that surf and beach safety on Waverley’s beaches have changed with the introduction of professional lifeguards, who are responsible for daily safety measures. BSC’s primary purpose is to provide weekend patrols, which are valuable but can be supported by a simpler, single-level facility. The proposed expansion, including a commercial tavern, is unjustified and not in the best interests of the community.

Yours sincerely,
Mike Danzey
Chairperson, BATAS [Est. 1971]
Past Alderman of Waverley Council