Published on 09 August 2022
Revamped South Port changerooms officially open
Revamped changerooms at the South Port Surf Life Saving Club have been officially launched—the latest in a long line of changeroom projects completed or underway across Onkaparinga.
The official opening took place at the club on Saturday 6 August, with City of Onkaparinga Acting Mayor Simon McMahon telling guests the revamped changerooms would help support healthier, happier and more inclusive communities.
“Life saving clubs like South Port aren’t just an integral part of keeping our communities safe, they’re part of Onkaparinga’s cultural landscape, providing opportunities for all of us to stay healthy, active and engaged,” he said.
“The aim of this project was to provide a well-designed, welcoming and inclusive facility for this much-loved club, to other local and visiting sports clubs, and the wider community.
“Not only that, this project was about meeting the needs of a growing surf life saving community, increasing women’s participation, and improving gender equity to supporting healthier, happier and more inclusive communities.”
The upgrade addressed the inequity of the previous changerooms, which had a male changeroom about double the size of the female changeroom. The project also increased the footprint of the changeroom without increasing the overall footprint of the building.
City of Onkaparinga received funding from Phase 2 of the Australian Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) Program to deliver the project—one of more than 65 that are either completed or underway in Onkaparinga through the wider program.
Council worked with Adelaide-based multi-disciplinary building designers, Intro, and local construction business, RMK Building Group, to design and construct the inclusive new facility.
“A big thank you to the federal government, our building and design partners, council staff and the South Port Surf Life Saving club for working with us to deliver this much-needed project,” the acting mayor said.
“The surf club’s members have saved more than 1000 lives since the club’s inception in 1959.
“I don’t think anything can adequately repay them for an invaluable contribution such as this, but I hope this new facility will provide members and the wider community with a safe, welcoming and happy space for years to come.”
Pictured
South Port Surf Life Saving President Dick Olesinski, Cr Sue Tonkin, Acting Mayor Simon McMahon, Amanda Rishworth MP and Cr Bill Jamieson alongside the entrance to the revamped changerooms.