It's the fastest-growing surf club on the South Coast but Gerringong's beachside home base is bursting at the seams.
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Built in the 1970s by club members and extended over the years, the clubhouse's best days were behind it, Gerringong club president Gary George said.
So they're looking to knock it down and start all over again.
"There are some structural issues with the building," Mr George said.
"They would be quite expensive to repair in their own right. The building's looking quite tired so it's time for a rebuild, and we're going to get an excellent fit for purpose facility with the new building."
To help with the project, Liberal candidate for Gilmore Andrew Constance pledged $5.5 million for the rebuild if the Coalition wins the election.
That would cover the bulk of the estimated $6 million price tag for the rebuild.
The building's looking quite tired so it's time for a rebuild.
- Gerringing Surf Life-Saving Club president Gary George on the 1970s-era clubhouse
"It's massive news for our club," Mr George said. "We're in desperate need of replacing our surf club to continue to provide the emergency services response to the community.
"We patrol Gerringong but we're always going down to Seven Mile Beach in the summer.
"The next club to the north is Kiama so we've got from Kiama to Shoalhaven Heads in the south so it's a fair amount of coastline that we can be called out on."
There is also the need to provide enough space for the steady increase in members.
Mr George said the membership base has grown 15 per cent over recent years, with 280 registered nippers and more than 100 patrolling members.
"Gerringong Surf Club has got the strongest growth figures across all the South Coast branches," he said.
"We've had a consistent rise in the number of nippers and the number of patrolling members.
"We've got great growth statistics within the club."
Mr Constance was at the club on Monday with Tourism Minister Dan Tehan to announce the pledge.
"The current design does not allow a proper view of the beach, particularly the inner shore gutter and permanent rip to the south," Mr Constance said.
"This is extremely dangerous when poor conditions force the patrol into the clubhouse.
"This upgrade will allow a proper view of the beach and provide more storage."
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Glen Humphries
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
