Sutherland Shire Council has revealed it may need to demolish and rebuild the long-stalled North Cronulla Surf Life Saving Club redevelopment at an estimated cost of between $30 million and $45 million.
The scale of the figure emerged at last week’s council meeting, where Sutherland Shire mayor Jack Boyd confirmed independent reviews of all three structures on the existing construction site – the new building, the existing building, and the pool – had uncovered “widespread issues”, including non-compliance with building codes, deviations from approved plans, and missing certifications.
While councillors voted unanimously on next steps for the project, one councillor described the spiralling costs were “frightening the community”.
Boyd acknowledged the importance of finding the most “fiscally responsible” approach. He assured council would take public expenditure into account before locking in a construction pathway.
“Despite best efforts, the club was unable to complete the project and as council owns the site, it is our responsibility to ensure this vital community asset is reinstated. However, we understand concerns around public expenditure and will take this into account when making any final decisions about a construction pathway,” he said.
“We must prioritise public safety and deliver a building that meets today’s standards in the most financially responsible way possible, and I believe this decision will ensure the delivery of a safe and modern community facility that offers long-term value without placing extra costs on ratepayers.
“We are working closely with the club, maintaining transparency and collaboration as things progress, and we are grateful for their ongoing support and engagement.”
North Cronulla Surf Life Saving Club president Geoff Budd said the club continues to strongly support council and its decision-making process.
“We approached the Council some sixteen months ago for assistance and have been working with the current staff for many months on finding a solution and finishing the redevelopment. This has been very positive,” he said.
“We need to continue to work with Council to achieve an outcome which supports the club, Council and community expectations.
“Before we enter into any formal agreement as a club, we have a constitution and will need to present to our members the business case created by Council.”
Construction of the surf club began in February 2022. It was originally scheduled for completion by February 2023, according to the construction program issued in November 2021. However, in January 2024, the original contractor, Lahey Constructions, departed the site without completing the works.
The club’s efforts to appoint a new builder in May 2024 were unsuccessful, and the project was temporarily suspended. In July 2024, the club formally requested assistance from Sutherland Shire Council. The council, a key stakeholder, agreed to take over the project, which at the time estimated the cost of the project to be around $8 million.
Council will now explore cost recovery options and continue to workshop the plans. A progress report outlining updates and next steps is due in December 2025.
At the meeting, council also considered its revised planning proposal to reclassify the commercial part of the land at the surf club site from “community” to “operational” land. However, council chose to defer the decision until an option has been confirmed for the reconstruction of the site.