Surf Life Saving operations centre opens in Port Macquarie

The new Surf Life Saving NSW Northern Operations Centre at Port Macquarie has been officially opened.

The facility is a significant regional development which aims to provide greater training, education and sporting opportunities to lifesavers throughout northern NSW and is the result of generous joint funding from the Australian and NSW Government.

The Member for Lyne Dr David Gillespie MP attended the opening and spoke to local volunteer surf lifesavers who will benefit from new opportunities the facility will deliver for them and the community.

Construction of the operations centre was possible due to Surf Life Saving NSW’s successful application for funding under the NSW ClubGRANTS Category 3 scheme. In addition the Federal Government has provided funding for the facility under the Community Development Grants Program.

Commenting on the opening, Dr Gillespie stated “surf lifesavers do an amazing job keeping us safe on the beach and this new centre will provide support to lifesaving activities, boost participation in volunteering and strengthen our local communities.”

The multi-purpose building will provide a secure facility from which volunteers can train, store and maintain vital lifesaving and rescue equipment, and deliver first aid and CPR training to surf lifesavers and the community.

Surf Life Saving NSW President Tony Haven added “the new facility will substantially increase capacity to save lives and support volunteers in the entire north of the state – in total around 32 surf life saving clubs and more than 20,000 volunteers.

"It will be a fantastic boost to our surf lifesaving capacity and an integral part of our State Emergency Response system too, which saves hundreds of lives each year outside the flags.”

Locating a multi-purpose operations facility at Port Macquarie will also give regional volunteers and development programs much needed support, increasing participation in Surf Life Saving activities away from the major metropolitan centres.

Acknowledging the support of both the NSW and Federal Government, Haven concluded "we are grateful for the support of the Australian Government and the NSW Government, through the ClubGRANTS program, to give our regional volunteers some of the same opportunities their city counterparts enjoy."

For more information visit www.surflifesaving.com.au

Image shows the opening of the Surf Life Saving NSW Northern Operations Centre at Port Macquarie.

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