And he had every right to be.

The complex's official opening was the culmination of a 15-year dream for Mr Jones, who has been the driving force behind the facility, which for the first time in 44 years offers the South Coast Surf Life Saving Association a home.

"It feels fantastic to finally see this dream come to fruition," he said.

"There were many who believed establishing such a complex would 'never happen'.

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"It's been a long journey - there have been plenty of ups and downs - but we have a wonderful new facility."

The $1.54 million complex was the result of a 2019 bipartisan election commitment worth $1.2 million, Shoalhaven City Council which provided the land on which the complex is situated, and $350,000 from the State Government's Surf Club Facilities Fund.

The new complex includes two training rooms, multiple administration areas which will also be home of the branch administration officer Sean Hendry, and storage areas for the branch's $180,000 of assets and equipment.

It is part of the Shoalhaven Emergency Services Precinct at West Nowra.

"Personally I feel very proud of what we have been able to achieve," he said.

"We started on this in 2007 - it's been a long time coming.

"But it just hasn't been me, there has been the support from the building committee, the various branch councils and of course the clubs themselves. And a lot of other individuals along the way.

"I'm really chuffed - it's magnificent. But I do feel a weight lifted from my shoulders now it is completed and open."

Among a host of people he thanked for their help with the project he highlighted David and Andrew Goodman who designed the complex and "did a wonderful job".

"We have been through at least five iterations of the building and probably looked at just as many sites before we settled on this location," Mr Jones said.

Mr Jones said he has been asked numerous times "why the complex has been built in town?"

"We don't need to be at a beach," he said.

"The intent of the branch with this complex is to train people for activities that aren't water related or in the sand - we don't need to be in the water to train them.

"Like the Gold Medallion Beach Management Certificate for patrol captains - that can be done in a training room. Other programs for Junior Activities Age Managers, we can run here, off the beach. Where we show them the practical, technological and the administrative requirements

"We can also run programs for our trainers and assessors."

Mr Jones said part of vision was also to have an area where the branch can store all its equipment.

"Over the years we've had trailers and equipment spread all over the branch," he said.

"We needed to be able to control our assets. We have $180,000 worth of assets and now we can control them and have them all in the one location."

Mr Jones said it "makes sense" for the complex to be located as part of the Emergency Services Hub.

In February 2018 Surf Life Saving became a recognised support agency to emergencies under an amendment to the State Emergency Rescue Management Act.

"Even before the act was amended this branch, in the 2001 fires, put a large number of inflatable boats and the jet boat resources into Sussex Inlet," Mr Jones said.

"Far South Coast brought resources up to help us and we transported RFS firefighters up and down the river as the fire surrounded the whole Sussex village.

"It hasn't let up, in the recent floods we had 42 surf lifesavers here in the Shoalhaven in this building, the first to use this building six weeks ago, from the Central Coast, Sydney Northern Beaches, Sydney, Illawarra and our own members who were here for three days."

Mr Jones has been South Coast Branch president for 15 years, "some will say too long" he laughs.

"Surf Lifesaving NSW says we shouldn't be in these positions this long, and we should do five years and then move on," he said.

"But when you look at the members, they recognise we are working, doing things, achieving things, so why change the leadership just yet?

"It's not just me, there are lots of club and branch presidents across the state who have longevity and their branches are effectively working.

"I still feel I have something to contribute, however I do realise personally, probably in the next two years I will be stepping down and allowing the next generation to step up.

"There is a movement across Surf Life Saving NSW encouraging younger people to step up but we are in a generation, in some instances, where the new generation of people in volunteerism are reluctant to step up in some instances.

"At the end of the day, I still have something to contribute and this building is part of that realisation, where we now have a training facility.

"And I'm keen to see this facility also be available for other not for profits organisations to hold meetings, training etc, to use the facility when it's not in use by surf lifesaving."

In a moving speech during the official opening Mr Jones thanked everyone for their support throughout the project's process, especially Shoalhaven City Council - councillors, executive staff and staff in general - who were an "immense support".

But made special mention of his family, and in particular his wife Sally, for their ongoing support.

"I honestly couldn't do it, if it wasn't for the support of my family and especially Sally," he said.