New lifeguard base starts for Papamoa East

Bay lifeguards make history by setting up shop in Papamoa East for the first time. Photo / Andrew Warner

For the first time, beachgoers in Papamoa East will have designated lifeguards watching over them.

Papamoa Beach Surf Lifesaving Club has this summer extended its services to include setting up a patrolled tower at the eastern end of the 16km stretch of beach.

The club's satellite base was prompted by the area's ballooning population in an attempt to help save lives this summer.

''It just means our response time will be so much better,'' Papamoa club captain Shaun Smith said.

''The quicker we can get to someone, in that five to 10-minute window, the more likely they are to survive. After that, the more you struggle''

The tower has been set up at Taylor's Reserve, for now.

''We are still working things out, but at Taylor's Reserve we have easy access for emergency services to get in there, there's a toilet there as well and it's easy access to the beach with the boat ramp being there.''

Mr Smith said it would likely take a couple of years before any facilities to help lifeguards shelter properly or have a cup of tea could be set up.

''It's going to be a bit of trial and error. There's a lot we won't know until we get down there.''

The patrols will run daily from 11am to 5pm, which allows an hour either side of the patrol to set up the tower and flags.

Tauranga City Council Mount Maunganui and Papamoa ward councillor Leanne Brown said she hoped the new base would be a sign of more permanent things to come.

''Obviously the population growth in Papamoa East means there is absolutely a need for it,'' she said.

Ms Brown said when the council agreed to the latest round of funding for the club, it included the condition that a form of patrol would be set up in Papamoa East.

''It's been on our radar for a long time,'' she said.

''So it's great that they've been really pro-active and not waiting for an accident to occur before things happen down there.''

The Papamoa surf club celebrated its 25th birthday last year, after it initially was set up as a satellite base for the Omanu club.