Narrabeen Lake Sailing Club (NLSC) has been waiting for a new clubhouse since a fire destroyed their previous building in 2021. While insurance money has finally been received, the project faces further delays due to funding shortfalls.
The club is eager to find a solution to continue its programs and serve the community.
The 2021 fire completely devastated the NLSC’s facilities, destroying the clubhouse and its equipment. The blaze required significant effort from firefighters to extinguish. For the past three years, the club has relied on donated shipping containers for storage, a temporary measure while they awaited the promised rebuild.
Following community consultation, the Northern Beaches Council designed a new clubhouse with expanded facilities, including public restrooms, a meeting room, storage, a cafe, and a canteen. However, the project’s estimated cost has risen to over $3 million after floodproofing considerations, exceeding the $1.9 million insurance payout recently received by the council. To reduce costs, the NLSC has been exploring alternative solutions, including demountable buildings.
The NLSC proposed a demountable building design, similar to one previously used by the council at Balgowlah Oval, which they believed would be a more affordable and quicker option. The club expressed concerns about the impact of the delays on membership and volunteer numbers, highlighting the need for a functional space for meetings, training, and shelter from the weather.
The council, however, has stated that a demountable building would not be the most cost-effective option in the long term, and it would be difficult to adapt the modular design with public amenities and broader community uses planned for the new facility. Councillor Vincent De Luca acknowledged the club’s concerns about delays and increasing costs, urging the council to expedite the process.
The council has indicated that receiving the insurance funds will allow them to pursue grant opportunities to address the funding gap. They plan to meet with the sailing club to discuss the next steps.
While the Narrabeen Lake Sailing Club has managed to survive through fundraising and perseverance, they are eager to have a permanent home again to continue serving the community and growing their programs. The timeline for construction remains uncertain.
Published Date 11-Feb-2025
