Manly Life Saving Club DA Lodged — But Will It Ever Be Built?

Northern Beaches Council has submitted DA2025/1424 for the Manly Life Saving Club, describing it as the demolition and construction of a community facility, recreation facility (indoor), and kiosk, with a Cost of Works listed at $19.85 million.

It’s been a long road for the Club with the building long recognised as being inadequate in terms of access and utility for both Council employed Lifeguards and Club members alike. Back in 2014, the MLSC secured development approval after a protracted Land & Environment Court process that forced a reduction in the proposed building height. At the time, some funding trickled in from members and the State Government, and a lease with the former Manly Council allowed the Club to retain kiosk and hall hire income to support rebuilding. (Manly Council kept control of bookings and fees for community spaces at both North Steyne and Queenscliff Surf Clubs.) But there was never enough money to go ahead.

By 2018, a report to Council confirmed no capital improvements had been budgeted for the MLSC building, though a list of possible grants was identified — from modest $20,000 community grants to the Greater Sydney Sports Facility Fund offering up to $5 million, each requiring matching or partial contributions. But no applications for any of these grants were made for the MLSC. Then in 2019, the then Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced a $5 million Federal Government grant for improvements to the Club — funds that reportedly remain available.

Show us the money…

In 2021, despite still not having adequate funding, the NB Council called for design expressions of interest, quoting a $15 million budget for the project. This was followed in 2022 by the appointment of design consultants under RFT 2021/130, and in 2024, approval of $414,000 for Phase 4 — the DA documentation and approval process. (funded by NB Council rates). There are 157 Surf Clubs in NSW, including 21 on the Northern Beaches, and over the past seven years, the NSW Government has invested $23 million in surf club upgrades across the state, with another $5 million announced in the 2023/24 Budget — the majority of these grants to individual Surf Clubs is below $100,000, but so far, none earmarked for Manly except in December 2022 the State Member for Manly provided NB Council $1million toward the redevelopment of the MSLC. This funding came from the State Office of Sport. However, Council has recently noted that construction cannot commence until all funding is secured, and that there are no funds in the current or future budgets for the project.

So while the DA moves forward on paper, with the current application process unlikely to conclude before June 2026, the community may still be waiting a long time before the crumbling Life Saving Club and tired public amenities get their long-promised rebuild.