Supporters of a planned Port Macquarie Surfing Museum have hit a hurdle.
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The surfing committee has been working toward securing a Crown Land site on Town Beach to build its museum.
The area is historically the home of surfing with boardriders taking to the waves in 1912.
Following talks with Crown Lands and Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, the committee will now tread water until July 2021 for the completion of two documents, says spokesperson Alan Jeffery.
"At our meeting just recently the committee was informed that in July 2021, Crown Lands will hand control of lands to council," Mr Jeffery said.
"Council is now preparing a plan of management which will include how they will control and manage any projects on any of these reserves.
"There is also a new coastal erosion plan being prepared - these two plans are running in conjunction - and will be completed in just under two years," he said.
"Crown Lands told us at the meeting that, at this stage, they don't want to see any major new structures in the Town Beach precinct."
Despite the setback, Mr Jeffery said enthusiasm remains very strong within the committee and the wider community for the museum to be built.
He said the main concern at the meeting was the impact of rising sea levels and coastal erosion on Town Beach and the proposed site.
Mr Jeffery said the committee still believed Town Beach was the best site for the museum.
"However, it was clear at the meeting, that everyone was very supportive of our plans and feel that our idea is a good fit for Port Macquarie," he added.
However, it was clear at the meeting, that everyone was very supportive of our plans and feel that our idea is a good fit for Port Macquarie.
- Alan Jeffery
The surfing museum committee is currently exploring its options and has earmarked several possible sites if Town Beach site is not successful.
These include lands in the maritime museum precinct where there is a section of land capable of housing a museum.
"There was good support for this idea; having the surfing museum and maritime museum on the one site was considered a good fit," Mr Jeffery said.
The surfing museum is also celebrating a new home, opposite Beantree Cafe on Horton Street.
The bigger premises has enabled the committee to better display its historical information about Port Macquarie's deep connection to surfing.
"We are now able to have dedicated areas for the various era of surfing and surfboards while having a separate area for our history," Mr Jeffery said.
Meanwhile the Port Macquarie Surfing Museum will host a screening of the surf classic film Morning of the Earth at Sea Salt Cafe tonight (Thursday, October 10), from 5.30pm.
There is a cover charge and you can purchase drinks and refreshments from the cafe.
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