A Wave of Transformation: Enhancing Broome's Iconic Beachfront with PERMALITE®
The Broome Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) once operated out of an outdated shed, but they now have a state-of-the-art facility, designed and built for the cyclonic conditions of Western Australia.
Broome’s new Surf Life Saving Club’s North West Training Facility is part of a larger $36.5 million Cable Beach foreshore redevelopment. The masterworks involve transforming Cable Beach into a world-class waterfront precinct while preserving its natural beauty and amenity, and Broome SLSC is key to the transformation.
The SLSC is of particular significance to the local community, but Cable Beach is also a popular tourist attraction, given its status as the world's third-best beach according to TripAdvisor. Thus, the redevelopment had to serve the diverse needs of different stakeholders and, importantly, stand the test of volatile north-western Australian weather.
Designing for Broome’s unique environment and location
The planning and development of Broome Surf Life Saving Club’s North West Training Facility presented significant environmental challenges.
Being a surf club in a marine environment, it was essential to select materials with maximum longevity that could withstand the harsh coastal conditions and cyclonic winds prevalent in the region.
“The amount of rain we receive in a single event can be up to 350 mls in an hour, so the roof was a high priority because it does more than one task: it manages the wind pressure and rain loads, but it also has to blend in with the landscape,” explained architect Nathan Laird, Director of Laird Tran Studio.
The materials used would also impact the design from an aesthetic perspective. While stainless steel was initially considered, it’s high cost and limited in versatility. “There aren’t many shapes and profiles you can build from stainless steel,” Lysaght Business Development Manager, Adam Johnson-Kain, said. “That limits your choices and what aesthetic you can create with that sort of material.”
Broome is also a significant distance from manufacturing facilities. This meant all materials had to be manufactured elsewhere and driven to the location, with the closest city being Perth – a two-day drive.
“When you’re in the north-west of WA, there are different efficiencies of economy. Say you want to do one big long lorry that takes 22 metre sheets, but you can only fit so much on that lorry. It’s too much weight and the sheets become squashed. It’s easier to do shorter lengths and more shipments, even though that may take longer.“
Weathering the storm: Choosing PERMALITE® for longevity and resilience Lysaght's PERMALITE® product, an aluminium-based roofing and walling solution, proved to be the perfect fit. With its superior resistance to corrosion and ability to withstand aggressive environments such as coastal locations, PERMALITE® provided the necessary durability for a surf club operating in a marine environment.
“The architect needed something that had been cyclonically tested and also something that would withstand the marine environment,” Adam said. “PERMALITE® delivers options in different shapes and sizes for that exact reason.”
During the project, Lysaght provided technical advice and support to the entire project team. “Lysaght assisted with quantities of order, detailing of slip joints to the roof, and provided advice during the design phase with relevant details,” Nathan said.
With cyclonic safety as a top priority, Lysaght collaborated with the project team to ensure that the building and framing met the necessary safety standards. “As soon as you get cyclonic, you really have to converse with engineers and architects simultaneously to make sure the building and framing is all being cross checked,” Adam said.
Balancing aesthetics and durability
PERMALITE V-RIB® cladding, featuring a double capillary drain in the rib overlap to ensure almost total weather security, were used for the walls in the Sahara® hue — a colour which echoes the beach’s natural sand dunes. The roof was constructed with PERMALITE ALSPAN® cladding, designed to have a high water carrying capacity, in Glacier White®.
The project also accounted for concerns related to galvanic corrosion and the interaction of dissimilar metals. The roof design incorporated meticulous detailing to ensure the complete separation of different metals. For structural integrity, 316 stainless steel fixings were employed for both the roof and walls.
As it stands, the surf club has a bold and aesthetically appealing design, with roof angles that compliment the slopes of the sand dunes. The SLSC North West Training Facility has been designed to integrate with the Cable Beach masterworks, which are scheduled for completion in September 2024. At this point, building access points will be added and the work will give facility greater synergy with the wider beach.
Contributing to Broome's evolution: A vibrant ocean city
The Cable Beach Surf Life Saving Club redevelopment was completed by Colin Wilkinson Developments (CWD) and achieved practical completion on June 30, 2023. The new facility offers a multifunctional training and purpose room, a gym, a bar and beverage service, and open spaces available for community hire.
Being a Broome resident for more than 40 years, Nathan was pleased to hear Broome locals commend the project as “well considered and thought out”. “To hear that from them, that really mattered to me. Once the masterworks are completed, there will be some real galvanising of the historical elements and old Broome stories to help both visitors and locals alike understand the story of Cable Beach.”
The SLSC North West Training Facility redevelopment project stands as a remarkable story in coastal infrastructure development. The careful selection of Lysaght's PERMALITE® aluminium-based roofing and walling product ensured longevity, durability, and resistance to the harsh marine and cyclonic conditions of Broome.
“Cyclonically tested projects are our specialty,” Adam said. “We’re proud to be able to offer our expertise and support the growth of regional areas.”