Cairns Surf Lifesaving Club upgrade begins at Palm Cove

Redevelopment of the Cairns Surf Lifesaving Club at Palm Cove will see the facility become the new regional training hub for surf lifesaving in north Queensland.

The $5 million, three-storey development on Palm Cove's Williams Esplanade is set to create 30 jobs for the region's surf lifesaving members and visitors.

The first stage includes a new ground level and supporters club, and is expected to be completed by March 2012.

Income generated from the first stage is epected to pay for stage two which includes the relocation of the club rooms to the waterfront by 2012/13.

A Surf Lifesaving Centre of Excellence and function building will be built in the third and final stage.

Cairns Surf Life Saving Queensland (SLSQ) President Douglas McKinstry said local businesses and the community were eagerly anticipating the new club's arrival.

McKinstry told local newspaper The Cairns Post that membership growth in the past eight years had seen the club outgrow its basic facilities, stating "North Queensland has the largest life-guarding contracts in the state from Green Island to the (Esplanade) Lagoon and many of the beaches.

"The Palm Cove site is perfect, as we have a vast amount of waterfront land there and we're ready for a modern surf club."

SLSQ Deputy President Barry Woodger said the new look Palm Cove club would become the training base for north Queensland members, adding "the new development has been some two years in the making and it will provide better training facilities and bring a boost to the local economy."