Community
11 April, 2025
Britnell calls for funds in Budget
MEMBER for South West Coast Roma Britnell has added her voice to the plea for state government funding for the Warrnambool Surf Life Saving Club.
Ms Britnell last week called on the Labor Government to fund the club when handing down the May State Budget.
“The Warrnambool Surf Life Saving Club urgently needs a rebuild,” she said.
“The club house was originally built in the 1950s and has well and truly served its purpose.
“The current club house is not fit for purpose and beyond its use by date.”
Over the Labour Day long weekend, the club hosted the Victorian Junior State Championships which attracted more than 1000 junior lifesavers to the event.
Ms Britnell MP said during the competition, the club house lost water and then power.
“That shows how desperately a new facility is needed,” she said.
“The original club house has never had a skerrick of government funding. It is time for the government to provide a suitable environment for the volunteers.”
In parliament last week Ms Britnell called on the government to provide much-needed funds.
“The Warrnambool Surf Life Saving Club provides high quality services to all beach goers, and members of the community,” she said.
“In conjunction with the Life Saving Victoria Communication Centre, the local ambulance, police and fire services; the Coastguard and the Warrnambool City Council, the Warrnambool Surf Life Saving Club provides an essential public service.
“The club proactively works with local schools to educate children about safe beach practices in an effort to avoid unnecessary beach incidents.
“Their members urgently need a new club house to enable them to deliver their services in a modern building with basic services such as power and water.”
Ms Britnell added that club members were the only organisation that had an actual presence on the beach and were therefore the primary service provider to the public for emergency rescue at Warrnambool’s main beach and surrounding areas.
“The Warrnambool Surf Life Saving Club is called upon for all emergency beach and water rescues and brings in advanced support from local ambulance or Coastguard services as required.
“They allow victims to have access to accredited first aid treatment within those vital first minutes of an accident.”
According to Ms Britnell, Warrnambool surf life savers receive nationally accredited medical and first aid training, skills which are directly transferable to everyday medical emergencies within the community.
“They deserve a new club house, which should be funded by the Allan Labor government in the May budget.”
