A push is gaining momentum to make Port Macquarie the home of the state’s first purpose-built surfing history museum.
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The surfing culture and the significant people and milestones throughout the surfing eras would be celebrated at the Port Macquarie Surfing Museum.
Port Macquarie Surfing History Association vice-president Glenn Dick is confident the multi-purpose community based-facility will become a reality.
“Our museum is going to be placing all the surfing disciplines into the context of a most remarkable educative, cultural and touristic attraction,” he said.
The museum would present the story of surfing within the Port Macquarie-Hastings and the wider region with affiliations nationally and internationally.
A museum location has yet to be decided but the association’s preferred location is Town Beach.
Mr Dick spoke about the museum proposal at Port Macquarie-Hastings Council’s June 20 meeting.
The council agreed to consider the unsolicited proposal for a Port Macquarie Surfing Museum as a submission to the reviewed Cultural Plan when it is on exhibition.
The draft 2018-2021 Cultural Plan is on exhibition until July 20.
The Cultural Steering Group will consider the submissions to the draft plan and make adjustments before it goes back to the council for further consideration and adoption.
Cultural Steering Group chairman Cr Rob Turner said considering the proposal as a submission to the Cultural Plan review was a good idea.
“One of the key drivers of the whole plan is cultural tourism and putting an economy around culture,” he said.
Deputy mayor Lisa Intemann said the museum was an exciting opportunity for the region.
Cr Intemann said it was most appropriate the council was not committing at this stage but taking it as a submission to the Cultural Plan.
Cr Geoff Hawkins said Port Macquarie Surfing Museum was a fantastic project.
“This is just the starting gates – we haven’t locked into doing anything,” he said.
Mr Dick expects the establishment of the museum will be a lengthy process given the proposed location and associated issues.
The association plans to seek state government cultural and sporting grants.
The group has a preliminary design concept for a museum building.
Mr Dick said the association’s president Alan Jeffery was a good team leader, they had a solid organisation and the full support of many businesses as well as the surfing industries and surfing fraternities.
Go to the Port Macquarie Surfing Museum’s Facebook page for more information.