Club to own new surf lifesaving building

The Nelson Surf Life Saving Club has welcomed a council decision for the club to own its new facility.

President Noah Hosie says the progress over the last couple of years to get the club a new building was “fantastic”.

“It just proves … that the community needs and recognizes us as a service.”

The club has been described as having the “worst facilities” on the best beach with an independent report highlighting an “urgent” need for a new building.

Early in November, Nelson City Council confirmed that the surf lifesaving would own its new facility and has allocated $1.65 million towards the project in its recent long-term plan.

Noah says that being able to own and manage the facility was a big advantage for the club and is consistent with the Surf Life Saving New Zealand ownership model for club facilities.

"Being that little bit more flexible will make us a little bit more successful.”

It’s also expected that club ownership of the building will make it easier for the club to raise the remaining funds it needs to complete the facility.

In addition to the $1.65 million from council, the club has also secured $1.6m from Surf Life Saving NZ, and needs to raise another $1.35m to meet the total $4.6m cost, up from the $3.3m originally forecast.

“It is a massive challenge, and we definitely need the support of the community, locally and nationally, but I’m confident we can do it,” Noah says.

But despite elected members confirming that ownership of the new facility would lie with the club, some councillors had concerns about the club’s ability to maintain the facility, and wider community use of it.

Councillor Pete Rainey had questions about the “financial resilience” of the club and had wanted further information before the council made its decision.

“We’ve got to be absolutely sure that it’s being run, maintained, and looked after to the very highest standard.”

Councillor Rachel Sanson also sought assurances that more groups other than the surf lifesaving club would be able to use the building.

“I always envisaged that this would be a facility for broad community use.”

Noah says, the club, a registered charity, is in a “good state” financially after saving over the last 15 years. He points to the feasibility study for the new facility which states that the club was “likely to be able to sustain running the facility, delivery of services and allowing for long term renewals”.

The study estimates an annual operating cost for the new facility of $173,000 a year if the club owned the building, while also projecting an estimated income of almost $213,000.

Noah also agrees that it would be “a massive bonus” for the facility to be open to “anyone”.

“When we’re not using it for our requirements – definitely, that is the proposal … for people to book it out.”

The new facility is slated to be built on the beach where the club’s containers are currently being used for storage. A concept for the design of the building resulted in a 680 square metre facility over two floors and a viewing tower. The land the new facility is on will still be owned by the council who will be paid a lease.