New HQ on cards for life saving club

Members of the the Riversdale Surf Life Saving Club are hopeful plans for a new clubhouse will be approved early next year.

Plans for a $650,000 clubhouse incorporating a purpose-built first aid facility and public toilets are now before the Masterton District Council awaiting consent.

Club chairman Dave Rose said at more than 60 years old, the existing clubrooms were "tired" and maintenance costs were rising.

"The building was also getting too small for a lot of our activities at the beach, especially around beach education classes, the nipper programme and our delivery of first aid services.

"Two years ago the council condemned the old public toilet block, next door to our clubhouse, as structurally unsound. When this happened we approached the council and asked whether a combined facility could be built, incorporating our clubhouse, a purpose-built first aid facility and a new public toilet block. They agreed and after two years of design and planning we now have plans in place that will deliver this facility to Riversdale Beach."

The costs for the new facility were expected to be about $650,000, with council and Trust House both contributing funding towards the new building.

Mr Rose said the club would approach other funders, including Lotteries.

The bulk of this summer's fundraising would go towards outfitting the new first aid facility.

It was hoped building would start in June 2016, with a possible completion date of Labour Weekend 2016.

Once the plans are approved, the club intends to hold a public meeting to present them to the community, Mr Rose said.

The prospect of a new building was very exciting, he said.

"It will be a wonderful asset to the Riversdale Beach and surrounding community. We will have a large area to host beach education courses, first aid seminars and be able to offer the facility for the use of other community groups for meetings and trainings."

The new first aid facility will be at ground level for ambulance access and will be open around the clock.

The storage area for gear will be double the size, allowing all the rescue equipment to be stored in one place.

It was hoped consent from council would be received by February.