Patrol tower coming down

Waimarama Life Saving Club property director James Laver (left) with club chairman Kim Nilsson, in front of the 44-year-old patrol tower. Photo / Duncan Brown

The historic Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) patrol tower on Waimarama Beach will be no longer, with the structure slated for demolition today.

It was erected for the 1975 New Zealand Surf Lifesaving Nationals by the Hawke's Bay County, before going on to become the club's patrol tower.

Waimarama SLSC chairman Kim Nilsson said after four decades of serving the small beach settlement, the tower is being rebuilt - away from the stormwater outlet and closer to the clubhouse.

He said the decision came from the Hastings District Council, which had put $50,000 towards the project to move the structure back from the berm due to erosion issues.

However, because of its heavy concrete base, this was not an option so instead the patrol tower will be rebuilt - whilst retaining its current view of the beach.

"We still want it, we still use it, it is a very good asset for us," Mr Nilsson said.

With regards to the rebuild, he said it was important to retain the current vista as it takes in both the south, where the boats take off, and the north, which faces towards the river mouth.

"Both those places are where we have notoriously had a lot of rescues," he said.

"Not that they are within our patrolled area but we do seem to have a bit of a coverage over those zones.

"And our mission statement is 'to prevent drowning at Waimarama Beach', so although we concentrate strongly on our patrolled area we still have eyes towards those locations - and the tower provides us with this ability."

In November, a new cantilever structure will be built closer to the club in a safer area and with access to electricity so life-saving technology can be installed.

Mr Nilsson said the new tower would be bigger at four by four metres, plus a deck, which would provide guards and rescue personnel with more space.

The new tower was due to be completed by December, he added.

"We have got the Central Regional (Surf Life Saving) Championships at Waimarama Beach in January, we would love to have to tower in place by then.

"So we have got the enthusiasm to get it up there and that will obviously be a very good opportunity or good base for event staff, event guarding and surf safety."