About PROJECT TRANSFORM
Help us revitalise the WSLSC clubrooms
Thank you for visiting our Project Transform website, which is dedicated to the revitalisation of the Whangamata Surf Life Saving Club’s aging clubrooms at Williamson Park.
Please take a few minutes to study this vitally important project for the Whangamata community and the numerous holiday-makers and visitors our beachside town attracts.
We have a major facility issue and what follows will hopefully to explain the dilemma the club is currently facing with our existing clubrooms.
Current Building Issues
Essentially our 55-year-old facility is worn out, structurally defective, does not meet the required seismic standards, and doesn’t work well for its purpose.
This is not a surprise for a building that has been located in such a hostile weather environment for more than half a century. The building has largely withstood the extreme conditions posed by a beachfront location, however, and the basic foundations, excluding external and internal cladding, remain sound. This is a blessing, as our structural engineering and architectural team can design the new facility around the existing structural framework, saving the huge extra cost of a complete re-build.
The need to transform our facilities is now an urgent one, given the demands on the Club today. The need behind the Club’s original mission statement – “To save lives by protecting the Whangamata beach-goers through our people” – has changed considerably over the years and the services we are required to provide today are far-reaching compared to our original base 73 years ago.
Today, not only do we provide one of the New Zealand’s leading lifesaving services, but our remit extends into regular first-aid assistance, after-hours Search and Rescue (SAR) support, and surf and beach education and associated sporting activities for youngsters from as young as five years. Our facilities are in constant demand throughout the year by school groups, sports clubs and numerous training organisations, with activities ranging from first-aid courses through to hosting search and rescue operations. Should you wish to understand more about what we offer please have a look at www.whangamatasurf.co.nz
Where will we be in 2072?
Future-Proofing Our Facilities
In embarking on this transformation of our clubrooms, we want to give the Whangamata community, along with all those who see the town and beach as a second home, a facility to be proud of, that is aesthetically pleasing, but highly functional and robust in construction, that will stand the test of time with minimal maintenance and serve the community’s needs for at least another half century.
To get there, we desperately need your support! Find out how you can help us…