Planning approval has been granted for a modern $3 .4million facility for the Mandurah Surf Life Saving Club at San Remo, replacing the tin shed-like home the club has used for the past few years.

The building and seawall tender will be awarded this month with construction likely to start in March and an expected completion date in early 2013.

The new facility will include more storage space for boats and equipment, an office, first aid area, kiosk kitchen, change rooms, external public toilets, beach showers, viewing platform and a 50-bay car park.

Funding has come from Lotterywest, the Department of Sport and Recreation, Peel Development Commission (through Royalties for Regions) and City of Mandurah.

"This clubhouse is 10 years in the making and we can't wait to get it started," Mandurah Surf Life Saving Club president Warwick Webb said.

Future design: An artist's impression of how the new Mandurah Surf Life Saving Club will look when completed.

Mandurah mayor Paddi Creevey said she was pleased the first steps had been taken to create something that will benefit so many people in the future.

"It will meet the shortterm and long-term needs of the local community and ever-growing Peel region,  supporting essential emergency and first aid services for Mandurah's beaches while helping with training people in water safety and lifesaving," Cr Creevey said.

"Community facilities such as this offer a wide range of uses for healthy lifestyles, including sporting and social recreation, training, events, youth development, entertainment and fitness.

"As club membership, resources and presence on the beach increases, so does the need for better facilities and the new facility will help to meet that demand."

The club was originally formed in 1996 as the Peel Surf Life Saving Club at Halls Head and was renamed the Mandurah Surf Life Saving Club in 2000 before relocating to San Remo in 2003.

Source: Mandurah Mail, 05/01/12