A dream of building a new clubhouse is now a reality for the Warrington Surf Life Saving Club after finally reaching its $1.5 million fundraising milestone.However, the club is still looking to add to that number.
Club captain Mark Hastie said through donors and fundraising efforts over three years, the club had enough funds to start building a new clubhouse and garage to replace the current structure.
The club had hosted many sausage sizzles, bake sales, raffles and all other types of fundraisers imaginable.
What tipped the project from dream to reality was the many generous grants and donations from organisations and trusts such as the Otago Community Trust, Surf Life Saving New Zealand and the Harry J Wilson Trust, among others, he said.
The club's existing A-frame building and three-bay garage were built in 1980 and held a lot of sentimental value for the members and community alike.
"A lot of us have grown up in the A-frame, but it's time to go.
"The A-frame's served us well, but it's time for a new fit-for-purpose building to replace it, it will be nice not to bang your head every time you go upstairs."
The upgrades would significantly enhance the capability of the club to deliver surf lifesaving services, providing volunteers with the facilities they needed to perform their duties effectively, supporting the development of junior members to become lifeguards and continuing to deliver programmes to support and promote water safety and develop surf sport capability, he said.
The building will include new changing rooms, heated showers, a first aid room, an accessible bathroom, lifeguard facilities and extra storage.
"We store a lot of our gear off site because we don't have enough room ... It's pretty dark in the changing rooms and there's a lot of airflow, it also attracts a few rodents over the winter."
The A-frame removal will begin at the end of the season in mid March and, if all goes to plan, the new structure will be completed for the start of the new season in November.
