Members of Papamoa Surf Life Saving Club who turned out at Tauranga City Council this week to hear their club officials submitting a plan for a new clubhouse may feel the next step of the process is nearing.

The proposed clubhouse

The club wants to change the shape of its leasehold on Papamoa Domain to fit the design of the proposed new clubhouse – and the fact they didn't get a lot of questions from Tauranga City councillors about the land lease is a good sign, says club chairman Matthew Pickering.

'They were asking all sorts of questions about that, so we took it that the land lease itself isn't going to be an issue, as they have gone past that,” says Matthew.

'The questions we got were positive which was very pleasing.

'I understand by end of August they will make their deliberations, make a decision on whether to approve the new land lease, which is where the new building will go,” says Matthew.

'That's the key thing we require ticked off, so we can then go down the next step of the process - resource consent and consent for the building.

The fundraising campaign will get under way once they get the land, says Matthew.

The club's submissions were heard about 6.30pm Tuesday (August 13), with about 25 of the club's 655 members supporting the officials.

Papamoa Surf Life Saving Club was formed in 1990 in response to the growing Papamoa community and the need for a more permanent surf life saving service at the popular Papamoa Domain.

The clubhouse was built in 1988/89, extended in 2001, and continues as the base for the lifesaving operation that covers the 14.5 kilometre stretch of coast from Frasers Papamoa to Marjorie Lane, at the end of Papamoa East.

Club members say the building is now in a state of disrepair and unsuitable for surf life saving purposes – the toilet and shower facilities are dysfunctional and unusable, the patrol tower structure is decaying, there are weather leaks and the storage is inadequate, and requires three railway wagons, gear stored by Omanu Surf Life Saving Club and expensive gear being stored outside.

Tauranga councillors supported the club's plans when they were first presented to the council in April. But Mayor Stuart Crosby expressed doubts about the building's size and its end use.

Matthew says right from its construction, the Papamoa Surf Club building has also been a community facility and home to the local Lions Club, Scouts, Girl Guides, Cubs and Brownies.

'Those relationships are expected to continue in the new building.”

But the main requirement is for additional storage, says Matthew.

The street view

The club wants to replace the decaying and too small 400m2 building with a 2147m2 two storey building. Most of the basement floor is machinery and surf lifesaving storage and a workshop area that will be largely set into the sand.

In addition to storage, the new building will contain a watch control room, a St John paramedic centre, changing rooms, toilets, showers, a gym/training area, and multipurpose meeting and congregation areas for club members, community groups and other users, and a kitchen and bar area.

Matthew points to the recently-completed Muruwai surf club as the style and standard they hope to achieve, which sets a new standard for surf life saving club amenities in New Zealand.