Around 5.30 pm on Saturday November 27th a fire broke out at the rear of the Narrabeen Lakes Sailing Club's facilities in Jamieson Park, on the lagoon.
Fire and Rescue NSW responders from the Narrabeen, Mona Vale and Avalon brigades attended. A video posted on social media by Ray Bush showed the extent of the blaze. The fire took around an hour for the responders to bring under control.
Narrabeen Lakes Sailing Club StatementNovember 27: 11.00pmThe NLSC committee and members of the club are deeply saddened by the fire at Jamieson Park. We are relieved that no one was injured in this tragic event.We are working with authorities to understand the cause of the fire. It appears, at this stage, to have originated and significantly impacted the rear of the building which is occupied by Jamieson Park Paddle, a kayak hire business which is not affiliated with NLSC.We do not yet know the extent of damage to NLSC and its equipment and while it’s been reported on social media that the building housing the club is destroyed, we haven’t been able to access the premises to confirm this reporting.
Since last Issues' Notice Engineers and Council staff have visited the site and fenced off the area due to the structural instability of the building and the presence of asbestos.
Council has installed four temporary toilets at the location and are working with the lessees to arrange storage for items that may be salvaged from the wreckage.
Council is also working with Police and NSW Fire and Rescue who are investigating the cause of the fire.
Once investigations are completed by authorities, and the extent of the damage is known, Council will liaise with its insurers to determine if the building will be demolished and re-built or repaired.
Narrabeen Lakes Sailing Club Clubhouse this week. Photo: Margaret Woods
Narrabeen Lakes Sailing Club Clubhouse this week. Photo: Margaret Woods
On Monday, November 29th, the NSW Police Force stated that Police are appealing for public assistance following a building fire on Sydney’s Northern Beaches at the weekend.
About 5pm on Saturday 27 November 2021, emergency services were called to The Esplanade, Narrabeen, following reports of a fire.
On arrival, officers attached to the Northern Beaches Police Area Command found a business premises in Jamieson Park well alight.
NSW Fire and Rescue eventually brought the blaze under control, however the building sustained significant structural damage, and the roof was destroyed.
Sailing boats, paddle boards and kayaks were also destroyed. There were no reports of injuries.
A crime scene has been established and as inquiries continue into the circumstances surrounding the fire, police are appealing for anyone who may have information to contact Northern Beaches Police on 02 9971 3399 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
Members of the Narrabeen Lakes Sailing Club realised that all of their equipment including safety boats and learn to sail boats had been destroyed.
NLSC photos.
The club is entirely run and managed by volunteers, and is not-for-profit. It has a strong family ethos and a large kids learn to sail program.
Although the Council has insurance for the building the NLSC need help to get NLSC back on the water with new equipment so we can encourage the next generation of sailors through the club. They launched a fundraiser page which quickly accumulated donations of almost 17 thousand dollars.
Since then they have launched a tax deductible donations option via Australian Sports Foundation - see link below (Go Fund Me also still active if you prefer).
The funds raised will help the club to keep the club afloat until they can rebuild and to get an interim sailing solution in place for their junior sailors in particular.
Australian Sports Foundation page: asf.org.au/projects/narrabeen-lakes-sailing-club
Fundraiser page: www.gofundme.com/f/narrabeen-lakes-sailing-club-rebuild
The NLSC says: ''We’ve been incredibly moved as a club by the support and kindness of the local community, the broader sailing community, our members past and present and the Northern Beaches Council.''
''Although we have contents insurance, it will not be enough to rebuild the club from the ground up or help us cover current club costs and find alternative arrangements for the kids this Summer.''
Please help out if you can to keep the kids on the water this Summer and into Autumn to teach them about fitness, resilience and just having fun because, as we all know around here:
“Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.” ― Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows.
NLSC photo