Surf Life Saving Queensland Sunshine Coast branch has taken over the lease of Peregian Beach Surf Club from Noosa Heads SLSC and have vowed to work with residents on the future of the club.
The decision was reached following a meeting last Wednesday between SLSQ, Noosa Heads SLSC, SLSQ Sunshine Coast Branch and Noosa Council.
Noosa Heads SLSC will provide a volunteer patrol service at Peregian on weekends and public holidays for the forthcoming patrol season. SLSQ’s professional lifeguards will continue their mid-week and winter service, ensuring the popular beach remains patrolled 365 days of the year.
In addition, a dedicated Nippers program will be launched and based at Peregian this season, along with increased opportunities for community volunteers to patrol the beach.
SLSQ CEO John Brennan said the organisation’s key priority wass the safety and wellbeing of beachgoers.
“Importantly, this outcome will ensure that a high level of beach safety will continue for many years to come,” he said.
Noosa Council Mayor Tony Wellington said the outcome of the negotiations ensured that the Peregian community could be involved in the future direction of the club.
“In the long term, what we all want to see is a local club operated with local input,” he said.
“Now that the issue of the building tenure is resolved, Council can proceed with undertaking emerging maintenance work on the building.
“From Council’s point of view, this is a new era for surf lifesaving at Peregian Beach. Council has an excellent working relationship with SLSQ, and we feel confident that the new lease arrangement will see the existing building utilised in ways that genuinely suit the residents of Peregian Beach.”
Volunteer surf lifesavers will return to the beach on Saturday 22 September when the summer season officially kicks off.
