Kiama Municipal Council would like to clarify a few misconceptions in the community about the clubhouse at South Werri.
Councillors voted last Tuesday night to approve the recommendation for Council to enter into a 10-year plus a further 10-year lease with Gerringong Surf Life Saving Club Incorporated (GSLSC) for the new premises at Werri Beach which was officially opened last year.
At the February 2026 Ordinary Meeting, an eight-month licence agreement had been issued to the Surf Club.
Council staff then worked with the executive of GSLSC to finalise the draft lease, which included addressing the submissions received during the exhibition period last November for the proposed lease agreement.
There were 93 submissions received during the 28-day exhibition period with 82 in support of the lease, seven objections and four uncertain.
Councillors at the June Ordinary Meeting voted to adopt Option 3 from the Report of the Director Corporate and Commercial Joe Gaudiosi.
Under this model, Council licenses the upstairs area of the building to the GSLSC with conditions:
- GSLSC has primary use but must make the space available for community hire at agreed times.
- Council sets usage parameters, pricing, and compliance requirements.
- GSLSC retains rights for core activities and approved events.
This provides more autonomy to GSLSC while ensuring public benefit is maintained.
A letter was sent to the club president in April last year titled Urgent direction and concerns over Gerringong Surf Club Licence to Occupy and other lease matters. It was sent by Council CEO Jane Stroud, not by Acting Mayor at the time, Melissa Matters, as was reported by a local media outlet.
It was not an eviction notice or a threat to do so, which was also reported inaccurately.
The letter raised questions about non-compliance issues, including the use of the upstairs area, the size of the kiosk, and the changerooms not being open to the general public, which had led to complaints to Council after a nippers carnival when children had to change in full view of the public.
The previous lease for GSLSC was for 20 years and the lease that was approved by Councillors last week is a 10-year plus 10-year option. The previous lease also permitted the use of the upstairs area for use as a public hall.
When the Development Application was lodged for the new clubhouse, it was approved as a community facility.
The clubhouses for Kiama Downs and Kiama Surf Clubs have a public hall in their lease as a permitted use for the community to use their upstairs facilities.
Council will now apply to Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig for consent to enter into the lease.
While the Minister is considering the application to enter into the lease, Council will refine the operating model process for the upstairs space while holding further discussions with GSLSC to outline the functionality that balances the operational requirements of the surf life saving club with the expectations associated with a publicly funded facility on public land.
This will ensure the building delivers functional outcomes for its primary users and equitable access and community benefit consistent with its intended role as a shared public asset.
