The zoning myth at the heart of the Gerringong Surf Life Saving Club dispute

It started with a surf club and a sausage sizzle. Now it’s playing out like a civic version of Succession, a slow-burn war of words, process, and pride, where paperwork trumps common sense and collaboration is a forgotten art.

What should have been a community victory has turned into a saga bigger than Ben Hur. An undated construction agreement. A lease that was promised but never delivered. A Council that says one thing in public and another behind closed doors. And a surf club caught in the middle, trying to keep the lights on while navigating zoning laws and bathroom audits.

The question is no longer what happened? It’s why has it come to this? And who benefits from the chaos?

At the centre of Kiama Council’s standoff with Gerringong Surf Life Saving Club is a claim that the current zoning, RE1 Public Recreation, prohibits commercial use and therefore a lease for the kiosk would require rezoning. But that’s not the full picture. 🧐

✅ RE1 zoning does prohibit general commercial activity
🚫 Unless it’s ancillary to a permitted use
🏄‍♂️ Surf clubs are a permitted use
☕ A kiosk that funds lifesaving patrols and supports club operations is clearly ancillary

💡 Across NSW, surf clubs run kiosks on RE1 land without needing to rezone. What matters is not the zoning, it’s what the Plan of Management (PoM) allows.

📜 Under Section 46 of the Local Government Act:
📝 If the PoM permits it, Council can grant a lease to a not-for-profit like GSLSC
🔁 If the PoM doesn’t permit it, Council can amend the PoM
🚫 Rezoning is not required

🔍 So what’s the real issue?
Not planning law. Not zoning. It’s interpretation, political will, and public trust.

📉 The longer this drags out, the more it looks like a civic soap opera, not a land use dilemma.

🕊️ A lease is lawful and achievable if the will is there.

#GerringongSurfClub #KiamaCouncil #LocalGovernmentDrama #CommunityLeadership #PublicTrust #ZoningDispute #CouncilWatch #SurfClubSaga #CivicSoapOpera #RE1Zoning

Author: Lynne Strong

I am a community advocate, storyteller and lifelong collaborator with a deep commitment to strengthening local democracy and amplifying regional voices. With roots in farming and decades of experience leading national initiatives like Action4Agriculture, I’ve dedicated my life to empowering the next generation and creating platforms where people feel seen, heard and valued. I believe in courage, kindness and the power of communities working together to shape their own future. These days, you’ll find me diving deep into the role of local media and civic engagement to explore how regional communities around the world are reclaiming their voice. View all posts by Lynne Strong