| 109 T T Russell Fredric Excitement building... The club’s core lifeguarding equipment includes inflatable rescue boats (IRBs), trailers, a side-by-side ATV and rescue boards, plus a range of surf-sport equipment. Warrington Surf Lifesaving Club COMMUNITY Excitement is building among Warrington Surf Life Saving Club members as the structure of its new facility begins rising from the ground. Earthworks were in progress over recent weeks, with completion expected in November in time for the summer season, club captain Mark Hastie says. The new facility will completely replace the club’s recently demolished 40-year-old A-frame structure, and will enhance the club’s ability to deliver its vital community services, providing a modern, functional space that supports training, equipment storage, and community engagement. “Some of our members were sad to see the A-frame go, and a lot of sentimental value for some who’ve grown up with it, really, but there’s a lot of excitement in the club,” Mark says. While planning has been in progress for the past three years, the building has needed replacing for about the past decade, he says. “We outgrew it, and it had come to the end of its life as such. It either needed to be done up or pulled down.” The robust new, two-storey concrete block and timber-framed facility was designed by architectural designer, Wayne Fa’asega of Smada Projects Design, a long-time club member. It will feature a lifeguard tower and an observation deck, and include male and female changing rooms and shower blocks, an accessible bathroom, a purpose-built first aid room, a bunk room, kitchen and office. An attached shed will triple the club’s overall storage capacity, which is much needed for its comprehensive inventory of equipment, some of which is being stored in a container and some off-site. The club’s core lifeguarding equipment includes inflatable rescue boats (IRBs), trailers, a side-by-side ATV and rescue boards, plus a range of surf-sport equipment. Another much-needed addition will be heat pumps for both warmth and greater functionality, especially for the club’s life guards on cooler days. “We had no heating in our old facility. We will also have a heated concrete slab in the changing rooms,” Mark says. Warrington Beach is a 20-minute drive north of Dunedin. Warrington Surf Life Saving Club has strong community ties, with some families having been involved across three generations. Of its 200 members 50 are lifeguards, and there are currently more than 100 under the age of 14, and a multi-generational volunteer base ranging from 14-61 years old. Additionally, the new facility will provide a much-needed upgrade to support the club’s comprehensive programmes, including its dedicated ‘Nippers’ lifeguard training initiative that prepares young members to become future lifesavers. Beyond its lifesaving services, the club has become a critical community resource, offering beach education programmes and surf safety courses for local junior and secondary school students. It plays a critical role in beach safety, performing more than 1200 preventative actions in the last season. “The new facility will support the club’s rapid growth, coinciding with the expansion of the Warrington community, which has seen an increase in new residential builds as well as the development of a large freedom camping ground,” says Mark. It is expected to be built for a total cost of $1.5 to $2 million. Of this, $1 million has been funded from Surf Life Saving NZ, $300,000 from Otago Community Trust, plus other significant private donations, while the club itself has raised about $60,000. “We are extremely grateful for the generous funding and donations,” says Mark. “The new facility will be a great boost to the club and the Warrington community, and when we’ve talked to other clubs around New Zealand, they all say we can expect a big influx of new members next season.” Proud building partners for Warrington Surf Club. Email: jason@stevwill.co.nz For all your Resin ooring needs 027 473 1617 wayne@smadaprojects.co.nz P: 0800 11 22 39 A: 56 Teviot Street, Dunedin 9012 A: 19 McNulty Road, Cromwell 9310 E: sales@protrade.net.nz www.protrade.net.nz
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