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After many false starts, Ōrewa Surf Club believes it will be in a position to lodge a building consent for new clubrooms around March next year.
Club president John Chapman says the $6 million project will deliver a state-of-the-art surf life saving facility with modern training facilities and proper storage rooms.
“We’ll finally be able to say goodbye to those containers currently on the site,” he says.
The new two-storey building will also provide space for social activities and meetings, and will be about twice the size of the existing clubrooms. It will be set nine metres back from the current building, providing much-needed space for club activities on the beachfront.
While it will be first and foremost a facility for surf lifersavers, the club is also keen to see it utilised as a community hub. The space will be versatile enough to cater for meetings and conferences, and the restaurant will be upgraded.
“We’ve seen how the clubs operate on the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast of Australia, where they become the heart of the community, and we have modelled our rooms on that idea.”
John says if things go to plan, construction will start at the end of the 2022 season, with completion about a year later. A temporary lifeguard station will be in place during the build.
Funding is still the big hurdle with the lion’s share expected to come from grants.
John is confident the club can count on Auckland Council and Central Government, as well as NZ Lotteries and Foundation North. Local fundraising and support in-kind is likely to make up the difference.
“Our building has to happen. The present clubrooms just can’t do the job and will fall down of their own accord in another few years.
“We’re also conscious that we are a focal point of the beach and the reserve, so we want our building to reflect well on that environment. It really is time for Ōrewa to recognise that this is our showpiece.
“I think the club has a lot of goodwill and it is something that the community wants to see happen.”
