Is the planned swanky new restaurant atop the dunes at Avalon Beach a sign of progress or the creeping commercialisation of Sydney's century-old surf clubs?
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The denizens of Sydney's northern beaches have always been famously protective of Avalon Beach, a purpose from which not even David Hasselhoff could distract them.
About 2000 residents came out to shoo the producers of Baywatch further up the coast in 1999, after they offered a generous renovation of the surf club in return for three months' filming rights. But now, some fear the club has succumbed to the charms of fine dining.
A newly renovated club replaced the old crumbling concrete facade and was unveiled in September.
But it was announced this week, a newly expanded top floor, once home to patchy change rooms, would be leased out to restaurant corporation Trippas White.
That has raised the concerns of Brendan Donohoe, the chairman of the Surfrider Foundation.
"It's a change in a [Surf Club] model that has existed since 1900," said Brendan Donohoe, the chairman of the Surfrider Foundation. "It's going to get to the point when surf clubs feel like tenants in their own buildings. It's just purely revenue raising."
The surf-club leases two-thirds of the council building; the remaining third is leased out by the council, including the area containing the restaurant.
Matt Hanks, the operations manager of Surf Lifesaving NSW says other clubs have restaurants, including Whale Beach and Elouera, but agrees that raising revenue is a priority for most all new clubs.
"Any new clubs are looking at ways to bring funds in to keep the building maintained," he said. "It's up to the surf club. Some want nothing to do with it."
Most new clubs are being built with large halls with professional kitchens and cafe-kiosks, he says.
A similar development at Long Reef beach, including a 100-seat restaurant, was defeated three years ago following a community campaign involving local surfer Michael Gleason.
"It's tempting for councils and developers to have access to beachfront land that would otherwise be off limits," he said. "But bigger is not always better, not on public space."
Christine Hopton, the president of the Avalon surf club, denied the development would distance the public from the club.
"The [old club] was a rundown old wreck," she said. "Now the community is involved in the club so much more, we have 100 [nippers] in training. We've never had so many."
81-year-old Margie de Lowe, who has lived near to the beach for more than 50 years said: "I think it means surf clubs are going away from their sole purpose."
The new renovation cost about $2.5 million. About $300,000 came from a grant from Surf Lifesaving NSW. It features a playground, barbecue area and public seating.
A share of any profits made from the restaurant will go to maintenance and upkeep of public infrastructure near the beach.
About 80 per cent of Surf Clubs are on crown land. Surf Lifesaving NSW has been lobbying the state government to grant its clubs greater security of tenure.
Trippas White said it was still in the process of determining its menu for the restaurant. Its restaurant at Centennial Parklands serves lunchtime mains for between $20 and $35.
The restaurant will open around March.
