By Margaret Maccoll
Two weeks ago representatives from five Peregian community organisations met, agreeing to “work together to develop a community engagement strategy that will explore community expectations about the future of life saving at Peregian Beach”.
The meeting brought together Peregian Family and Friends Association (PFaFA), Peregian Beach’s Community and Businesss Associations, Peregian Beach Community House and Peregian Springs Residents Association.
On Saturday morning another newly formed group, Peregian Beach Surf Club inc, held its first committee meeting and sign on for lifesavers and nippers.
The new group, which met at Peregian Beach Community House, has been set up by former Noosa Surf Club members. It aims to reopen Peregian’s current clubhouse in September to provide lifesaving and a nippers program.
The group’s goal is to enlist 100 local lifesavers either through transfer from another lifesaving club or training and begin operation after obtaining Surf Life Saving Queensland accreditation.
Club president and former Noosa SLSC deputy director of lifesaving Rob Neely said community members had come out in droves with 27 signing up for the new nippers program.
Just a block from where the group met on Saturday members of PFaFA set up a meet and greet stall at the Peregian Village market to sign on its own supporters and collect contributions towards the consultation process.
PFaFA spokeswoman Leigh McCready said their aim was to inform the community on the group’s progress and community consultation.”PFaFA do not have a formal position on the future location, income streams or timeline for a fully operational surf club, we are waiting to hear what the community have to say prior to forming any official position on the way to move forward,” she said.
The group signed up 50 new members and have so far raised $5000 towards the consultation and aim to raise $10,000.
A second consultation meeting is set down for 14 April to discuss which tools to use to best collect the views of the community.
The Peregian Beach Surf Club group will be holding more sign-on days on 13 April with a BBQ in the Peregian Beach Village park and at the Peregian Beach Community House on 28 April.
