Renovation request

At Tuesday night's council briefing, club director Vicki Rasmussen said they had been working closely with City officers on the proposal over the past 12 months and had spent almost $60,000 on professional consultants to help with their business case.

She said the proposal included refurbishment of the first floor to "neaten up the members area" and "create some more user-friendly common and training spaces" and a cafe that would return income to the club.

"Over the last few years, we have managed to build quite a healthy reserve, a reserve we are able to invest in this building refurbishment," she said.

The club had first requested the City and Lotterywest contribute $675,000 each to the $1.7 million refurbishment and it would contribute $350,000 but Ms Rasmussen said this was "not palatable to the City".

She said the club would be willing to seek a further $220,000 from loans and borrowings to split the cost evenly between them, the City and Lotterywest - $570,000 each.

Cr Sam Thomas asked if the club would consider foregoing the annual $60,000 grant it receives from the City for the next 10 years to make up for the City's contribution.

"We would consider that but it's our least preferred option because that money is really important to our bottom line and delivering our services," Ms Rasmussen said.

She said the club was also responsible for all maintenance of the building.

She said a refurbishment would help the club to expand its membership and services.

"At the moment we have 4km of beach and where possible, we send people to North Point and South Point; we want to have a more sustained and more permanent presence in these areas," she said.

"We want to put a tower at North Point and have a presence with patrolling members and flags. To be able to do this, we need to be financially sustainable."

Club president Carlo Tenaglia said they currently had 1876 members and hoped to increase to 3000.

Cr Brian Corr raised concerns of parking issues if development was to go ahead with a cafe and if club membership was to increase.

There is no funding currently available in the City's 20-year financial plan and five-year capital works program.

City officers have recommended the council advise the club it cannot provide the requested $675,000 in the 2015-16 financial year but agrees to "give further consideration to funding a refurbishment".

A council document said the club's facility no longer catered for member demands and provided a challenge to the club in performing its services to the community.