Beach busier than ever

Despite the weather, the number of people spending time on Orewa Beach is up from last summer over the Christmas/New Year period.

Orewa Surf Lifesaving chair Faron Turner says maybe the weather encouraged people to stay around the Coast instead of heading away.

He suggests the numbers of locals on the beach could also be behind lower numbers of rescues and searches that have been needed.

The patrol season is about halfway through. Since it started, on Labour Weekend, Orewa patrollers have made five rescues, compared with nine over the same period last season.

The number of searches for missing people is down considerably – just six have been needed compared with 23 last season.

Twenty one medical and first aid interventions have been needed, which is similar to last season.

Faron says lifeguards are doing a lot more preventative work this year.

In particular that has meant warning people about the boat ramp by the surf club which many people with mobility issues use for beach access.

Erosion has undercut the ramp, making it dangerous for wheelchair access and Faron says lifeguards are using the club’s buggy to help people get down to the beach instead of using the ramp.

Council is in the process of considering what can be done. Its area operations, parks and community facilities manager, Kris Bird, says Council staff conducted a site visit on January 17 to assess the ramp and discuss options. 

“Staff are investigating extending and deepening the toe and sides of the ramp to provide a greater buffer for when sand levels drop,” he says. “Next steps involve continuing to liaise with the Orewa Surf Club and then to try and programme the work.”