"AWESOME, that's just awesome."
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It's a comment on $92,860 for new toilets at Crowdy Head Surf Life Saving Club and it comes from president Allan Davis.
Every few months I pick-up the phone to talk to Allan about the club and community campaign to secure funding for new toilet facilities. It's an issue that's been on the club's agenda and supported by Harrington Community Action Group (HCAG) for a number of years. Yesterday (August 4) I rang Allan to seek his comment on the NSW government grant and learned that he did not know the money had been allocated to the project - so I shared the details with him.
Member for Port Macquarie Leslie Williams announced on August 4 that two projects in Harrington would be funded from the Public Reserves Management Fund $92,860 to replace the public toilet block at the surf club and $8265 for aerial spraying and ground control of bitou bush, lantana and asparagus weed in the Harrington Beach State Park.
"Awesome, that's just awesome," Allan said.
"We've always had faith in council and our state government representative. Our club has a great relationship with deputy mayor, Cr David West, Leslie Williams and David Gillespie (federal member for Lyne).
"Council worked with us to develop a plan to ensure that it was a 'shovel-ready' project and now it's good to go.
"It will mean better facilities for patrons who use our facilities and relieve some of the pressure on our club members who have had to deal with the public about the condition of our toilets, as you know, people assumed the toilets were the responsibility of the club and we've had problems with that."
In announcing the funding, Mrs Williams described Harrington as "the big winner in this round of funding with two public reserves receiving funding."
"This funding is so important for the managers of these important assets as it allows improvements to be made that will continue to benefit the community now and into the future."
The campaign to attract State government funding for the 34-year-old toilet block escalated in January 2014 when HCAG wrote to the NSW Minister for Regional Infrastructure and Services, Andrew Stoner, requesting funds to demolish and construct a new facility. The group secured letters of support from St Paul's Aged Care, Anglican Care Storm Retirement Village, Valley Industries, Manning Valley Food Services, Manning Valley and Area Community Transport. At that time HCAG secretary Joan Hall said the toilet block was "long overdue for work and it floods when it rains. Something has to be done."
Ms Hall said an increase in surf club members and the annual triathlon festival at Crowdy Head meant there was an increasing demand for better facilities and it was important that all members of the community - including the aged and disabled - be able to access good toilet facilities at any time of the day.
She said the facilities were not listed on The National Public Toilet Map and described it as an information resource that was frequently accessed by people from all over Australia.
In February 2014 Allan also spoke to the issue of the lack of access for people with a disability.
He said the issue of disabled access should be addressed as the beach at Crowdy Head was ideal for people with a disability.
"The beach is broad and flat and we have an inflatable disabled wheelchair that is available for public use," he said.
"When you look at Black Head or Taree-Old Bar surf clubs, they have sealed carparks, good toilets and disabled access facilities, we would just like the same."
Eighteen months on the club now has funding for the toilet block and Allan has a new goal.
"The next step will be to lobby for an upgrade of the carpark area; and council has assisted us with the design work on that project," he added.
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