We allocated $100,000 through the Annual Plan 2023/24 to investigate opportunities for development of a surf lifesaving facility at Tāhunanui Beach.

The Nelson Surf Lifesaving Club operates from a small building beside the sports changing facility bordering Bisley Walk. This is a temporary building on the sports field – approximately 90 metres from the beach. They also have storage for boats and lifesaving equipment in several shipping containers in various locations on the reserve.

Also, the existing changing facilities on the sports field are considered inadequate, particularly for women’s sports.

Council prepared a business case for the project during 2023. The consultant’s independent report identified:

• “that there is a deficit in meeting levels of service for sports facilities at the Tāhunanui Beach. The most urgent relating to the Surf Lifesaving Club’s facilities, the safety of their members, and the ability to respond to emergencies. Changing facilities for the sports fields (especially women, girls, accessible and non-gendered provision), storage facilities, and the lack of a sports hub (social/meeting rooms) contribute to the case.”
  
  

Our proposed approach

We’re proposing to build a new facility closer to the beach to provide a suitable space for the Surf Lifesaving Club at a cost of $3.3 million. We’ve budgeted $200,000 in 2024/25, $1.53 million in 2025/26, and $1.57 million in 2026/27 towards the project. The project would proceed once the Nelson Surf Life Saving Club had raised 50% of the capital funds for the project.

We are also proposing to upgrade the existing changing rooms on the sports ground at a cost of $50,000 in 2025/26. Once vacated the existing surf lifesaving facility could be repurposed (e.g., for use as a changing room). Further consultation around the wider sports facilities will be undertaken as part of the Tāhunanui Reserve Management Plan process.

Retain the current facilities at Tāhunanui Beach

Council could decide not to proceed with improvements at the reserve and retain the current facilities. This option would not meet the service needs of the Surf Lifesaving Club and other beach and reserve users. The benefits of this option are that it would not have any additional cost, rating, or debt impact.

Construct a new facility for the Nelson Surf Lifesaving Club and upgrade the changing facilities (Council’s proposal)

Our preferred option would provide a new, fit for purpose building for the Surf Lifesaving Club close to the beach and would free up the existing surf lifesaving facility for another purpose (to be determined following further investigations), and would upgrade the changing facilities. The main disadvantage is the cost of the project and the impact on Council’s debt.

Estimated cost of $3.30 million (with 50% of the capital funds raised by Nelson Surf Life Saving Club and 50% by Council). Plus an estimated cost of $50,000 to Council to upgrade the existing changing rooms.

Impact on rates: Total of $738,000 across years four to 10 of the Long Term Plan.

Impact on debt: Total of $1.7 million raised in years four and five of the Long Term Plan.