Nationals Member for Myall Lakes Stephen Bromhead and Myall Lakes Nationals candidate Tanya Thompson have announced two surf clubs in the area will share in more than $710,000 to upgrade and improve their facilities through the NSW Government's Surf Club Facility Program.
Nationals Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience Steph Cooke visited Pacific Palms Surf Life Saving Club with Mrs Thompson to meet members of both the Pacific Palms and Forster Surf Life Saving Clubs to present the funding cheques.
"Surf clubs are at the heart of coastal communities and the NSW Nationals are investing in them to ensure they remain an integral part of communities on the Mid North Coast," Ms Cooke said.
"This program will deliver a range of game-changing projects for surf clubs that will result in improved facilities, increased participation in sport and recreation activities and general uplifts in usage to ensure overall community benefit."
The Surf Club Facility Program provides grants of between $50,000 and $650,000 to develop facilities that will boost participation, increase usage, and improve safety.
Ms Cooke said more than 20,000 volunteer lifesavers patrol 129 coastal locations every weekend and public holiday between October and April.
"The work of our volunteers is quite literally life-saving and I'm very grateful for the thousands of rescues they've undertaken this summer to protect locals and visitors to our coastline," Ms Cooke said.
Mr Bromhead said ensuring surf clubs across the Myall Lakes are maintained and upgraded is vitally important.
"Our volunteers deserve safe, accessible and secure facilities in order to train new lifesavers and support the community," Mr Bromhead said.
"Many surf clubs have been on the frontline both this year and in the last year, responding to incidents and emergencies including the recent flood disaster, and they need to be able to safely store and access vital rescue equipment at short notice."
