At Tamarama Surf Life Saving Club, we hold sustainability at the heart of everything we do. As Surf Lifesavers, ocean lovers, and community members, we recognise our responsibility to protect and preserve the natural environment that makes our beach so special. Just as we have a duty of care to those in the water, we also have a duty to care for the beach, ocean, and surrounding environment, ensuring they remain healthy and thriving for generations to come.
Sustainability is more than just reducing our footprint; it’s about leadership, influence, and leaving things better than we found them. A healthy planet supports healthy people, and as a club committed to saving lives, we see this as part of our broader responsibility. We are proud to have a positive impact, not just in the water, but in how we operate as a club, and how we inspire our members and the community we serve to take action.
Our Sustainability Ambitions
Our sustainability journey is well underway, but we know there’s still more to do. With the opening of our new clubhouse in August 2024, we’ve taken a significant step forward, embedding sustainability features that help reduce our environmental impact. This milestone reflects our commitment to being a club that understands its impact and actively works to minimise it.
Looking ahead, we aim to build on this foundation by reducing waste, conserving resources, and preserving our beach and marine ecosystems. Sustainability is a long-term commitment, and while we may not have all the answers yet, we are dedicated to continuous improvement. We are committed to making Tamarama Surf Club the best it can be and a role model in our community, not just for today, but as a lasting legacy for future generations.
Clubhouse
Tamarama SLSC’s new clubhouse is an incredible, iconic space that reflects the passion and commitment of our members. Designed with sustainability in mind, this building not only serves our community but also minimises its environmental impact, setting a new standard for surf life saving clubs.
Built by Schiavello, the clubs sustainability features include:
- Two solar arrays totalling 34kW
- Rainwater harvesting to be reticulated into the amenities flushing system
- Design features: passive design utilising the natural environment, double glazing, skylights for natural lighting, adjustable louvres for passive cooling, motion sensors on lights, high-performance roof installation to minimise energy usage
- Retained much of the existing structure in the design which reduced the need for building materials and tipping.
Sustainability Committee
The Tamarama SLSC Sustainability Committee was established to help drive the club’s sustainability efforts. Our work is continually evolving, and we’re excited to continue to develop and implement our sustainability vision.
Our Priorities
We sought direct feedback from our membership regarding the sustainability issues that matter most to them. Based on this feedback, here’s what we aim to achieve:
- Sustainable Events Guidelines and Procurement – Embedding sustainability into how we run events and source materials.
- Single Use Plastic-Free Club – Reducing and ultimately eliminating single-use plastics from our operations.
- Beach Clean-Ups – Organising regular clean-ups to protect our beach and marine environment.
- Developing a Sustainability Strategy – Laying the foundations for a long-term plan to guide Tamarama SLSC’s sustainability journey. While there’s still a lot of work to do, 2025 is about starting this process and setting a clear direction for our operations.
It takes a community
If you are interested in supporting Tamarama SLSC to become the most environmentally sustainable Surf Life Saving Club in Australia we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch at [email protected].