Lifesaving deal agreed for burnt-out surf club

CRAIG SIMCOX/The Dominion Post

CHILLY WORK: Five-year-old Frankie Thornton didn't look too happy to be out in the cold for Lyall Bay Surf Life Saving Club's club day, but she was soon taken inside to warm up.

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Maranui Surf Life Saving Club can start to rebuild, despite calls for only one surf club in Lyall Bay.

Wellington City Council has voted in favour of a rescue package for the burnt-out building. Under the deal, the club gets ownership of the building, $350,000 of ratepayers' money toward repairs, and will lease the land from the council.

The club building, at Lyall Bay, and its popular cafe were damaged by fire in August.

In a heated debate that lasted more than two hours, councillors spoke last week of the importance of restoring the heritage building.

Deputy mayor Ian McKinnon said that was a main consideration. "The focus for us is certainly on the building."

But other councillors were concerned about the logic of having two surf lifesaving clubs so close together – the Lyall Bay Surf Life Saving Club is on the same beach.

"We need to look at surf lifesaving from a broader point of view," councillor Iona Pannett said. She was the only councillor to vote against the rescue deal.

The decision came after Surf Life Saving New Zealand warned an earlier council committee meeting that pumping public funds into rebuilding Maranui instead of a dedicated facility would threaten the safety of the beach.

Chief executive Geoff Barry said it recognised Lyall Bay Surf Life Saving Club as the organisation that patrolled the beach and it was a "mistake" to fund two clubs.

"If the council does invest in rebuilding Maranui you cannot suggest it is because of surf lifesaving and drowning prevention. It might meet cultural and coffee expectations but not drowning prevention in Wellington city."

At the earlier meeting, Maranui representatives tabled a petition signed by 5676 people, and an online petition signed by 2706 people supporting rebuilding the club and cafe.

Maranui club chairman Peter Clark said Mr Barry's comments took a "fairly harsh line".

"You can't actually disassociate the history, the culture and the community benefit of the club from the argument.

"We are providing life guarding services at Oriental Bay. So it does work. We are providing that service where it's needed."

Up to $300,000 will be earmarked in next year's council annual plan for new public toilets at the Lyall Bay club, which is designing new rooms. But the door was also left open for the club to apply for more funding for the redevelopment, because councillors did not want to be seen to be favouring Maranui, last week's meeting was told.

Lyall Bay club chairwoman Marilyn Moffatt said it had plans to build a $1.8 million clubhouse but had yet to get resource consent.

She was pleased with the outcome for both clubs.

"Everyone is now aware that there needs to be a facility for surf lifesaving operations in Lyall Bay and that our club building is in dire need of replacement."

An application by the Lyall Bay club for $500,000 was declined by council earlier this year.

Learning to save lives

It's not always easy being a lifesaver, especially when you have a Wellington southerly to contend with.

Five-year-old Frankie Thornton didn't look too happy to be out in the cold yesterday for Lyall Bay Surf Life Saving Club's club day, but she was soon taken inside to warm up.

About 130 children aged under 14 meet for the Lyall Bay Nippers every Sunday to learn water skills. This was the third week for the season, which will run till February. Yesterday, the volunteer lifeguards were put through their paces, with swimmers aged between 15 and 50 taking to the waves.

MetService forecaster Gerard Barrow said a northerly front would warm things a little today, but another southerly would add a chill to the air tomorrow.

A long history

The Maranui club was set up after a dispute with the Lyall Bay club in 1911 and is the sixth oldest surf lifesaving club in the country.

Today the feud is a thing of the distant past and, through the years, the clubs have had a strong sporting rivalry. Since 2005, the club has sub-leased the upper level for use as the Maranui Cafe.

At last count the club had 177 members, including about 45 qualified lifeguards and about 100 "nippers" (members aged 5-13).

The club has mobile patrols which are responsible for Oriental Bay and at various times, Scorching Bay. Club members still train and meet at Lyall Bay.

Its popular cafe is credited with drawing people to Lyall Bay. About 1000 people a day congregate on the beach during summer.

- © Fairfax NZ News