It was a pleasure to join surf cub members and local residents at the Anglesea Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) on 30 January 2021 to help officially open the club’s newly redeveloped facilities.
The $5.4 million building development was funded in part by $1.5 million from the Morrison Government – $1 million from the Building Better Regions Fund and $500,000 through the Regional Jobs and Investment Package. On behalf of our Government, I was incredibly proud to have secured this funding for Anglesea SLSC which plays such an important role in keeping our beaches safe and in saving lives.
While the state government and local council also contributed to the project, I wish to particularly recognise the extraordinary fund raising efforts of club members who together raised more than $2.1 million.
The new development includes state of the art training rooms along with new conference, storage and first aid facilities. It also includes new public toilets and a kiosk, accessible to all beach goers.
The Morrison Government understands the vital role which volunteer surf life savers play in our coastal communities. With 42 fatal drowning incidents since 1 July 2020 – 14 more than the 5 year average – this is a stark reminder of the dangers of swimming in our beaches, waterways and pools. Fifteen drownings (36 per cent) occurred on the coast, but very few if any occurred between the flags.
I commend the contribution which 38,000 members of Victorian surf life-saving clubs make to protecting and saving lives.
Along with the Point Lonsdale, Ocean Grove, Torquay, Jan Juc and Apollo Bay SLSCs, I am very proud to have fought for and delivered such substantial funding to upgrade the Anglesea SLSC which is now an incredible asset for the entire Anglesea community.
I commend the work of President Tom Cullen, Building Redevelopment Committee Chair Peter Williams other committee members such as Ingilby Dickson and Richard Carr who did so much over the years to deliver this jewel in the crown for the Anglesea community.
30 January 2021
*This figure does not include the incident at Altona on 30 January 2021 which at the time of writing had not been confirmed as a fatality.