Built by Edwards Constructions Pty Ltd, the centre is located within the Integrated Emergency Management Centre (IEMC) along Albatross Road, South Nowra.

Branch President Steve Jones said a branch providing a storage space and a centralised location for training was much needed.

"This has been a vision of mine since 2006," he said.

"There was a realisation for the need for it when there were seven branch managers across seven different home offices from Kiama to Mollymook.

"All our records were independently stored within each person's home and we had no central storage facility. The fact that we were doing our branch-required training up and down different locations of the coast meant it was becoming impossible to coordinate at a central location.

"Our water-based training is done at surf clubs, but a lot of our training is not water-based, including first aid and resuscitation."

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The centre will house two training rooms, administration offices, a kitchen and storage for lifesaving equipment.

The South Coast branch employs one part-time administration officer, one casual book-keeper and one casual school and community education officer.

The branch is expected to be completed by this Friday, April 17 with operations estimated to be able to begin late May.

Funding for the project has come from a Commonwealth Community Development Grant of $1.2m and the NSW Government Sport & Recreation Surf Club Facility Grant of $350,000.

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