The Waihī Beach Community Shop is set to reopen in early October after a car crash forced its closure more than two months ago.

A local driver suffered a medical event on July 18, sending their vehicle through the front of the shop, causing fuel damage that required extensive clean-up and repairs.

“Certainly, it was not intentional, and the lady’s car came through the front of the shop,” said Waihī Beach Community Shop committee spokesman Gary Alway.

Alway said the incident happened just after the shop had shut for the day, and staff were inside vacuuming.

“It pinned one of the staff against the counter; however, she was fine. The lady driving the vehicle was trapped in the car so the Mayor View Volunteer Fire Brigade, with help from Waihī’s brigade, managed to get her out.”

Waihi Beach Community Shop Committee spokesperson Gary Always hopes to re-open the doors early next month. Photo / Merle Cave

Alway said it was very fortunate no one was seriously hurt “because this is a busy destination for the community”.

Fuel damage

The shop’s front window was damaged, bric-a-brac items were broken – “but luckily there was no structural damage to the building”, Alway said.

“The vehicle’s petrol tank was ruptured coming across the road, hitting the bollards and taking out the picnic seat, and this caused all the fuel to leak onto the shop floor.”

The fuel damage was what caused the shop to remain closed for more than two months, Alway said.

“The floor has been stripped of its carpet and the concrete has to be polished back to get rid of the fuel fumes and then sealed so the floor can be recarpeted.”

The front door had already been replaced.

The shop damage after the vehicle was extracted. Photo / Supplied

“We were concerned about the clothing and fabric items but a couple of the team took it all home and washed it to rescue it. Now every single item that was in that shop has been washed and ironed and is ready to go back in – because it didn’t get contaminated.”

Stockpile bric-a-brac

The sorting garage out back was being used to hold all stock until the shop re-opened, said Alway.

“Our summer stock is ready to go. However, we will be short on bric-a-brac. The pots, pans, glasses, cups etc.”

As a result, he asked the community to stockpile these items and deliver them once the shop re-opened.

“We are really lucky to have such a supportive community.”

The Waihī Beach Community Shop is entering its third year of operation, and funds raised from the sale of items go to three local charities – Waihī Beach Surf Life Saving Club, Waihī Beach Coastguard, and Mayor View Volunteer Fire Brigade.

Since the accident, the shop has had no income to pass on to the local non-profit groups.

‘Huge’ impact

Alway said the impact the shop has had on the charities since its inception was “huge”.

“I think it was $25,000 each they received the first year. Last year it was another $20,000 each – and they’re all non-profit, so they’re all scratching around for money.”

Mayor View Volunteer Fire Brigade purchased a mule for rescuing people from Homunga Bay, a two-hour walk from Waihī Beach’s northern end. “Plus, it goes toward our ute replacement,” said Alway, a volunteer firefighter at Mayor View’s brigade.

Waihī Beach Surf Club had used the funds to help create its new hub, and the coastguard to keep its life-saving operations going.

Mayor View Volunteer Fire Brigade helped clear the shop of heavy items as part of a training night on July 22. Photo / Supplied

Alway estimated the shop would re-open in two weeks’ time. “We’ve got the floor grinding to get done, lay the new carpet and give the building a lick of paint before our volunteers go in to start building new shelving.”

He said building repairs were covered by the landlord’s insurance policy, but the shop was not insured – which meant all stock and lost profit was not covered.

Supportive landlord

The shop did have a contingency fund to draw on for emergencies, “which had come in handy” to keep paying utility bills such as power, internet and for new shelving.

“We’d like to thank the Roband family, our landlord. They have just been amazing to us the whole way through,” said Alway.

Between 25 and 30 volunteers run the shop, which is open 10am-2pm six days weekly in winter, and seven days when possible in summer.

“We are always after more volunteers – so please get in touch if you can help,” said Alway, who viewed the shop as not only a money-maker for the charities but a community hub.

“It’s a hub that keeps our community connected. Our volunteers would always have a cuppa and a bickie so it was social place, and customers would come for a cuppa and bickie too!”

Alway said the community can keep up-to-date on the shop’s reopening on the Waihī Beach Community Shop Facebook page.