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Bethells Beach Surf Lifesaving Patrol
CLUB REDEVELOPMENT
Beautiful
BUT DANGEROUS
If this summer is like an average summer, lifeguards at Bethells will rescue 46 people, provide first aid treatment to a further 38 people, conduct 10 searches for missing persons, respond to 10 out of hours call outs, and provide 5,700 hours of volunteer patrol support, an average of 72 hours of volunteer time per member, not including training time.
Our clubhouse has served us well over the past 50 years, but our growing members and increasing numbers of beach visitors, is stretching our clubhouse to its limits.
A GROWING NEED
Different Times
DIFFERENT NEEDS
When the clubhouse was first constructed in 1968, the club had approximately two dozen patrolling members. Today we have around 120 patrolling members and 150 children participating in junior surf.
Visitor numbers have grown as Auckland City has also grown.
Our club served us well over the past 50 years, but we need a club for today and for the next 50 years.
After consultation with members the following needs have been identified as impacting patrol operations
REQUIREMENTS
INCREASED
ACCOMODATION
Our patrols can have 25 to 30 members on duty. Many of those volunteers travel from all over Auckland to patrol at Bethells.
Providing sufficient accommodation for these members to stay overnight, increases the probability that the Sunday patrol will have the same number of volunteers as the Saturday patrol.
FIRST AID ROOM
RELOCATION
Current position of first aid room, is accessed via stairs or via long ramp too narrow for stretchers.
A large number of first aid incidents involve spinal injuries from the sand dunes at the lake.
OUTDOOR
SHADE
Lifeguards enjoy the outdoors, its part of why we volunteer our time.
Outdoor shade would be useful not only for post patrol gatherings, but also for junior surf briefings and other forms of training outdoors.
PARKING
As our club continues to grow, and as it is utilised more for training facilities, more parking is required to accommodate volunteer vehicles.
The problem is exacerbated by limited parks in the public area during busy weekends, and by the loss of parks due to clubhouse extension.
COMMUNAL
LOUNGE
The existing lounge is too small for club gatherings such as awards evenings, AGM's, JR surf awards.
The existing lounge is used for training courses, meaning patrolling members and other club activities are restricted during this time.
Improved lounge space and facilities will increase the number of courses held at Bethells, along with the probability of members staying overnight and utilising the club facilities.
TRAINING FACILITY
Bethells is an ideal location for a training facility, for beach education, first aid, rock rescues, and advanced first aid and lifeguard development courses.
Our coast line, the sand dunes and lake provide the perfect setting for rescue scenarios.
INCREASED
EQUIPMENT STORAGE
The relocation of the first aid room, will impact the current equipment storage area.
Our gear shed cannot currently house all of our rescue equipment, junior surf equipment, and training equipment.
IMPROVED
BEACH ACCESS
Our access to the beach is always under threat by the river, and is constantly being rebuilt.
Access down the public walkway is possible, but risks accidents with children and pets, particularly if we are responding to a rescue situation.
The following concept design has been prepared for consideration as a possible solution
CONCEPT DESIGN
Key Features
FIRST AID ROOM
The first aid room is relocated to existing gear shed (right hand side) allowing for ease of access for stretchers.
NEW BUNKROOMS
New bunk rooms will be constructed over the existing gear shed, this will allow the existing lounge space to be enlarged and incorporate the existing bunkroom areas.
GEAR SHED EXTENSION
To compensate for the loss of storage area with the relocation of the first aid room, and also allow for proper storage of items held in the container.
The container will be removed and the gear shed will be extended to the left of the callout shed.
A new training room will be constructed over the existing first aid room and part of the existing gear shed.
This will allow training to take place in a quiet area without impacting lifeguard operations.
TRAINING ROOM
Community, Iwi, Council consultations.
Emergency Facility, Environmental & Future Proof.
Design finalisation. Funding & Construction.
NEXT STEPS
Consultation
BETHELLS IS A COMMUNITY
We are keen to see greater integration between the club and the Bethells community.
We want our club to reflect the values of our community, such as concerns for the natural environment in which we operate, and respectful discussion amongst community members.
Our club provides an important rescue operation, our clubhouse has the potential to be a community resource for disaster and emergency response. We intend to build in systems that will allow for independent power and communications in emergency situations.
FUNDING
We have a number of parties willing to contribute to the construction phase of the project, through partnership agreements with surf lifesaving.
However, the club needs to fund everything through to building consent phase. There are a number of specialist reports which we need to obtain as part of the building process.
Your support or the support of your business would be greatly appreciated.
