Crane rescues surf lifesavers' tower

The patrol tower at Muriwai Beach had to be stripped of fittings before a crane could lift it. Picture / Richard Robinson

The relentless attack of Tasman Sea storms on the sand dunes of Muriwai Beach has forced the surf lifesaving club to rescue its own patrol tower.

The club called in a giant crane yesterday to pluck the tower from a shaky perch on a dune that had been scoured away by recent high seas.

Some of the poles holding up the tower had been left hanging in mid-air and were threatening to drag the tower down on to the beach, said Muriwai Surf Life Saving Club chairman Tim Jago.

"It was some of the biggest west coast seas locals could recall and the sand in front of tower just disappeared."

Club members spent the weekend stripping timber and fittings from the tower. They had to lighten it to 4.5 tonnes to enable the rescue lift by New Zealand Crane Hire's biggest machine, which was based on the nearest firm ground 44m inland.

Mr Jago said the tower was the focal point of the beach.

"It's the place people come to if there are lost kids, injuries and crime. We have to find a new site for it and this time maybe mount it on skids so we can winch it back as the dunes erode."

Possible sites will be discussed today with Auckland Regional Council parks and resource consents officers.

Further weekend working bees are planned by club members to have the tower up and ready for action when surf patrols start at Labour Weekend.

Mr Jago said club-members were donating their labour in the hope that the costs of shifting the tower would be fully covered by insurance.

Storms are eating away Muriwai Beach at the rate of 1.5m a year and it is not the first time that a patrol tower has had to be moved.

Last time a helicopter was used and the tower was dropped into the sea when it proved too heavy.

The clubrooms behind the foredune will be shifted in 18 months.

Muriwai's 130 active club-members carry out about 100 rescues a year.