Editorial: Waiver needed on fees for club

The Papamoa Surf Lifesaving Club.

Where would we be without our dedicated surf lifesavers?

Every summer they patrol our busy beaches and prevent potential tragedies.

Yesterday a story in the Bay of Plenty Times reported Papamoa surf lifesavers asked the city council to waive thousands of dollars in fees to help them build a new $5 million clubhouse.

The new building would be about three times the size of the current clubhouse and would be built away from the predicted future erosion zone.

The trust has already applied for a large amount of funding through different avenues to help with the consent process but the council can help the club by waiving or subsidising the processing fees.

The fees could range from $5000 to $40,000 but that is more than the club can afford.

To me the proposal seems like a no-brainer.

I am one of those people who can swim but is not particularly confident in the water. I know several others who are in the same situation as me and who need the reassurance of our local lifesavers.

Water Safety New Zealand figures show that in 2013, eight people drowned in the Bay of Plenty region, one more than the previous year and 10 per cent of drownings nationwide.

Five of those who died were male and three female.

Three died while using a non-powered boat, two died while swimming, while the other four deaths occurred while the victims were land-based fishing, using a powered boat, land-based fishing and water sports/ recreational.

A further three people died in water incidents in Tauranga this summer.

A sum of $40,000 isn't that big an amount when you consider the work done by lifesavers to keep us safe in and around the water.

The Papamoa club is growing fast, with an estimated membership of more than 1000 people by 2016 and the current lifeguards are using shipping containers for storage.

A city council decision is expected to be made within two months and I hope they decide to come to the party.