A push to elevate Newcastle's Surfest to the prestigious Challenger Series status has received a nod from Newcastle council.
The council will advocate to the NSW government to secure a World Surf League (WSL) event in Newcastle for 2025 and beyond after a minute from lord mayor Nuatali Nelmes on August 27.
The minute said Surfest had been in discussions with the WSL to upgrade Surfest to Challenger Series status, which is one step below surfing's highest level: the Championship Tour.
The status boost would allow the long-running Newcastle surf event to draw top-tier athletes.
Newcastle hosted a WSL Championship Tour event in 2021 when COVID-19 lockdowns affected some scheduled tour locations.
Cr Nelmes said the Challenger Series' NSW event was always held at Narrabeen, but Surfest founder Warren Smith saw an opportunity to try and entice the event to Newcastle with changes the WSL was making to its Australian tour.
"I know that they have been asking for support from the NSW government," Cr Nelmes said.
"The collaboration that's happening at the moment and the drive from Warren to actually elevate this component of Surfest to the international Challenger Series stage I think is a wonderful opportunity," she said.
Cr Nelmes said the council's support would hopefully be part of the pathway to obtain funding from the NSW government and secure WSL's interest in moving the event to Newcastle.
Liberal councillor Jenny Barrie said the event would be quieter than Supercars and bolstered the case for infrastructure improvements.
"I only hope this will elevate the need to upgrade our Merewether Surf Life Saving Club," she said.
