Tahunanui Beach facilities Debate

Community Wellbeing - Health

Option 2

The community strongly supports the construction of a new facility for the Nelson Surf Lifesaving Club at Tāhunanui Beach, emphasizing that the current facilities are inadequate and pose health and safety risks. Residents highlight the benefits of the proposed facility in enhancing water safety education, providing essential amenities like shade, shelter, and clean changing rooms, and fostering a sense of community and safety. Additionally, the new facility is seen as a crucial element in promoting physical activity, community engagement, and providing a safe environment for youth programs and emergency services, thereby significantly contributing to the overall health and wellbeing of the community.

Table of comments:

Point No	Comment
26.3	The changing facilities havent been changed since i was 7, i am now 54, cold, dangerous, unhealthy, something needs to be done here for such a tourist spot.
186.5	THis should be multipurpose building not just for surf lifesaving, ege waka ama, paddle boarding and wind sports such as wing foiling and wind surfing. Should include public changing room and toilet, as current options further down beach are old and dingy. Should also have bar and cafe facilities to improve publics use and experience of the beach, eg like Australian surf lifesaving clubs do
421.7	I strongly support a surf lifesaving facility at the beach. Not only does it keep the waters safety, surf clubs build good kiwis in leadership , teams and keeps everyone active. No brainer for a region with popular beaches
445.7	Nelson Surf Life Saving is a great thing for our youth to get involved in and stay active. We should embrace our coast line and encourage the use of the sea as much as we can and a new facility will encourage a better community environment for all. It will become a place our youth can feel connected to.
457.2	Here's why a clubhouse is urgently needed:Public Service: The Nelson Surf Life Saving Club is a vital community service, consistently engaged in search and rescue operations along a 300 km coastline. Our club provides water safety education, youth programs, and surf sports activities. With an average of over 34  rescues per year, multiple assists, first aids and preventative actions that impact the entire region, our lifeguards play a crucial role in saving lives and preventing emergencies.Community Education and Lifeguard Training: Our current training facilities are massively inadequate and scattered across multiple venues, leading to inefficiencies and logistical challenges. A clubhouse would provide a centralised space for training, accommodating larger groups and enable us to provide beach education programs for local schools, promoting water safety in our region.Health and Safety on Patrols: Existing patrol logistics suffer from limited shade, shelter, and scattered gear storage. A clubhouse would streamline patrol operations (saving over 2 hours each day on patrol), improve health and safety conditions, and provide essential facilities such as shade, shelter, toilets, and a kitchen.Community Presence: A Clubhouse would establish a permanent club presence, increasing public awareness, recruitment, and beach safety. It would foster community spirit, enhance members' well-being, and strengthen intergenerational connections within the club.Future Growth: With the club's predicted growth to 400 members and annual training of 35 - 40 new lifeguards, a clubhouse is essential for managing this expansion. It will contribute to the safety of the entire community by increasing the number of trained individuals capable of performing life-saving techniques.Events and Fundraising: A clubhouse would enable us to host events such as our Club’s annual Prize Giving, and multiple  inter-regional surf sports events and trainings, attracting visitors to the region and enhancing our club's presence in the community. This would contribute to our financial sustainability and support future initiatives.
545.2	I support the building of a Surf Life Saving Club at the Beach in Nelson.  Reasons why:Club BenefitsShelter for lifeguards Storage of gear in one buildingMeets operating needs for any Surf Life Saving Club - social needs for volunteers Increased training opportunities and education Member protection - female club members require decent facilitiesSense of belonging, attracts more members,stronger bigger club Community Benefits  Will help to promote increased patrol hours  Shows Nelson is serious about keeping the public safe at the beach and wants to promote the safe beach.  It’s an opportunity to create a base to help community resilience in the time of a national and local emergency. It creates a place for the public to go for help, to get first aid and a place for safeguarding children and young people if they feel unsafe at the beach.  Surf Life Saving helps with social development of a community.  Gives the community a sense of continuity of service and develops that community connection.  The right building could support the recreation activity in the area in term of bringing more visitors to the area. It could support the activities that are all ready in the area. Surf Life Saving Buildings are part of the New Zealand coastline and a part of our history.  I encourage the Nelson Council to think about what it develops as the group deserves support and are keeping the community safe.
555.4	Urgent Need for a Clubhouse at Tāhunanui BeachAttachments, pictures, and links in this message have been blocked because the sender isn't in your Safe Senders list. I trust content from communications@nelsonslsc.org.nz.
559.7	This is a great community project which will not only help protect people using our beaches who are not confident swimmers or who have a medical emergency while at the beach, but it will also give many young people in our community an opportunity to participate in a group where they can develop self confidence, self esteem and other skills that are great for their mental and physical well being. Good on you Council for supporting this idea.
637.3	The Surf Lifesaving Club is such an important community organisation.  Benefits include providing lifesaving rescues in the water, promoting water safety, and providing a pathway for young people to becoming involved in lifesaving and building high level skills in the water.  A dedicated club house would allow them to provide these important benefits in a much more efficient and sustainable way.  They have been an important part of our community for many years, dedicating countless volunteer hours to keeping us safe, and they deserve to have this asset to continue their good work.
639.1	Public Service: The Nelson Surf Life Saving Club is a vital community service, consistently engaged in search and rescue operations along a 300 km coastline. Our club provides water safety education, youth programs, and surf sports activities. With an average of over 34  rescues per year, multiple assists, first aids and preventative actions that impact the entire region, our lifeguards play a crucial role in saving lives and preventing emergencies.Community Education and Lifeguard Training: Our current training facilities are massively inadequate and scattered across multiple venues, leading to inefficiencies and logistical challenges. A clubhouse would provide a centralised space for training, accommodating larger groups and enable us to provide beach education programs for local schools, promoting water safety in our region.Health and Safety on Patrols: Existing patrol logistics suffer from limited shade, shelter, and scattered gear storage. A clubhouse would streamline patrol operations (saving over 2 hours each day on patrol), improve health and safety conditions, and provide essential facilities such as shade, shelter, toilets, and a kitchen.
902.2	The current facilities are well past dated and must be upgraded asap. With multiple sports codes using the Tahuna Playing fields already it would benefit a huge amount of members. At the moment the current toilet block is well past needing an upgrade, sewage flows into the changing rooms from the toilets, the lights are very inconsistent at working and the showers aren't always hot.
999.2	Our beaches are a key attraction to the area and ensuring they are safe for our residents and visitors is critical.  The Nelson Surf Life Saving Club is a vital community service, saving lives, providing first aid, training others and promoting water safety in the region.Having better facilities will aid them in their role and help future training on water safety as well as a provide a safe base for these amazing members.
1019.3	Dear Nelson City Council, Having been deeply immersed in the Nelson Surf Life Saving Club for the past 16 years, I've gained a profound understanding of the critical need for a Clubhouse and the invaluable service our Club renders to our Community. Throughout this time, my involvement has spanned various roles within our club, from steering junior surf activities to donning the lifeguard cap, instructing newcomers, and serving on multiple committee positions.From the perspective of a volunteer surf lifeguard on patrol, the current scenario paints a picture of inefficiency and frustration. Our gear sprawled across numerous inadequate facilities and containers adds a hefty two hours to our patrol days. Unlike other clubs where they simply open their clubhouse doors and head out for patrol, we struggle with the logistical nightmare of ferrying equipment to and from scattered locations. The ordeal of wrangling the patrol tower in and out of the council shed by Natureland, amidst public scrutiny and occasional abuse, further compounds our challenges.As a lifeguard instructor, the limitations of our facilities present a significant hurdle in conducting effective training sessions and inhibits us from recruiting larger numbers. With many trainees under 16 and lacking driver's licences, transportation to alternate training venues becomes an added complication. Despite being stationed at one of the country's premier and busiest beaches, our facilities pale in comparison, earning the dubious distinction of possibly having the worst SLS setup nationwide. The potential for community outreach, especially through programs like SLSNZ beach education for local schools, remains unrealised due to our current constraints.A clubhouse isn't just a building; it's a catalyst for strengthening bonds within our club, bridging the gap between junior and senior members, and fostering a sense of unity. It would afford us the opportunity to host events like our long-awaited club prize-giving, no longer relegated to the confines of local rugby clubrooms. And we could also hold bigger carnivals here attracted lots of out of town visitors to our region.Beyond the tangible benefits, involvement in Surf Life Saving transcends mere water safety. It equips individuals, especially our youth, with invaluable skills in risk assessment, first aid, CPR, and instils a profound sense of community responsibility. It's about belonging to our 'surf family' and, most importantly, about saving lives. This all extends beyond the beach, for example, just last year one of the young guards I trained ended up using her knowledge at the Warehouse one day where she saved a mans life doing CPR. The Nelson Surf Life Saving Club deserves better, and a clubhouse is not just a luxury but a necessity to unleash our full potential and better serve our community. Thank you for considering these points, I really appreciate your support for the NSLSC and our community.Ngā mihi, Mary Seelen
1026.1	Dear Nelson City Council,We wholeheartedly support the council's initiative outlined in the Long Term Plan 2024 -2034 Consultation Document, to develop a new facility for the Nelson Surf Life Saving Club. As representatives of the Nelson Surf Life Saving Club, we are submitting this proposal to advocate for your backing in establishing a clubhouse at Tāhunanui Beach - a pivotal initiative crucial for our community's safety and well-being.We have identified, through careful consideration, that the optimal location for a clubhouse would be where we currently already have two storage containers on the beachside of Bisley Walk. This is our preferred location as it is central along the beachfront, the part of the beach we want to encourage swimmers to; and it is also close to services. As a Club, we are fully aware of the financial requirements to make the Clubhouse a reality. Through extensive research and discussions, we have diligently prepared to pursue grants and partnerships, including regional and national funding opportunities through organisations like Surf NZ. We are confident in our ability to raise the necessary funds and fulfil our commitment to the council, as outlined in your “proposed Approach’ within the Long Term Plan 2024 - 2034 Consultation Document .Outlined below are the compelling reasons for the urgent need of a clubhouse:Public Service: The Nelson Surf Life Saving Club plays a vital role in our community, actively engaged in search and rescue operations along a coastline spanning 300 kilometres, and responding to natural disasters, as highlighted in Nelson floods. With an annual average of over 34 rescues, numerous assists, and proactive measures, our lifeguards are instrumental in preserving lives and averting crises.Community Education and Lifeguard Training: Currently, our training facilities are massively inadequate and dispersed across various locations, leading to operational inefficiencies. A clubhouse would serve as a centralised hub for training, accommodating larger groups, and strengthening our efforts in providing comprehensive beach education programs, particularly for local schools, thereby further promoting water safety within our region.Health and Safety on Patrols: In 2023 the Council prepared a business case for the project, with the independent consultant’s report highlighting the inefficiencies of the facilities, stating “that there is a deficit in meeting levels of service for sports facilities at the Tāhunanui Beach. The most urgent relating to the Surf Life Saving Club’s facilities, the safety of their members, and the ability to respond to emergencies.” Our current patrol logistics suffer from inadequate shade, shelter, and dispersed gear storage. A clubhouse would optimise patrol operations, enhancing health and safety standards by providing essential amenities such as shade, shelter, toilets, and kitchen facilities.Community Presence and Facility Accessibility:Establishing a permanent club presence through a clubhouse would not only elevate public awareness but also provide a facility that the community can use. It would facilitate recruitment efforts, fortify beach safety measures, and nurture community cohesion, enriching members' experiences and fostering intergenerational bonds within the club.Future Growth: With projections indicating a surge in membership to 400 individuals and annual training of 30-35 new lifeguards, a clubhouse is indispensable for managing this expansion. It will significantly contribute to community safety by augmenting the pool of trained individuals proficient in life-saving techniques.Events and Fundraising:                                                                                                         A clubhouse would enable us to host various events, including annual prize-giving and inter-regional surf sports events. These events would not only attract visitors to our region but also amplify our club's presence in the community, thereby bolstering our financial sustainability and supporting future initiatives.In conclusion, the construction of a clubhouse at Tāhunanui Beach is not merely a practical requirement but also a strategic investment in public safety, community engagement, and the overarching development of the Nelson Surf Life Saving Club.Tāhunanui Beach is one of the best and busiest beaches in New Zealand, with the worst facilities, so we implore the Council to prioritise and endorse this imperative proposal.Thank you for your ongoing support.Sincerely,Noah Hosie,Club President NSLSCOn behalf of the Nelson Surf Life Saving Club Committee
1032.1	The current facilities are not adequate to support the Nelson region with our location based right on the beautiful water. We have seen the surf life saving club in action and believe asking a team of volunteers to operate from the current facilities is detrimental to their success. A new facility with a centralised base for the club would create a hub, greater community involvement, greater training opportunities and reduce the health and safety risks associated with the water.
1060.1	Nelson surf lifesaving club needs a base. Its a busy beach and it needs patrolling also easy access storage areas for emergency response. My daughter is in the nippers program and loves it, needs to be more accessible for all children. They train in any weather so a space to go to for the theory side of learning is sorely needed not to mention hot showers and decent changing rooms. Water safety needs to be improved and this needs to start when children are young. Schools groups could benifit too. Thanks
1144.7	I swim with a group of friends all year. I have noticed the increase of people at the beach at all times and in all weather. It is a wonderful space and gives so much to our wellbeing. My father built the first surf life saving clubhouse on the beach and it was a hub for all sorts of family activities, King Neptune day was such a great event. I love seeing the club grow and see the next generation build confidence in the water and see its natural beauty as something we should respect and take care of. It is a treasure.
1341.2	This community of volunteers requires updated facilities as a matter of urgency. This is exactly the kind of group that our region depends upon. And the next generation will be the future custodians of our marine areas. Attracting interest into the many programs this essential group offers already, not to mention the scope for future developments, is a must. Fair to say the value of this initiative is huge, at least for my family of four residents and the vast majority of our friends also raising active children who depend on safety on the outdoors and a thriving surf lifesaving community.
1379.6	The Nelson Surf Lifesaving Club provide a wonderful and much needed service (particularly with the growing number of non-swimmers and tourists to Tāhunanui Beach). The present facilities are totally inadequate, and the club has been making do for at least a decade (and probably far more years). They need and deserve a proper facility. As volunteers they are very much taken for granted so at least the community can support the surf life saving club with the tools to properly do their job.I also support the upgrade of the changing facilities at the beach. The present ones are totally inadequate especially with the growing number of users.