Waita¯ rere Beach set for $500k revamp
Council-funded do-up a boost for popular summer hotspot
Things are heating up at Waitarere Beach. The old Levin-Waitarere Beach surf club carpark is soon to have new public toilet facilities, outdoor showers, a picnic area, a new concrete footpath and carpark resurfacing to compliment the impressive new surf club building.
The upgrade was financed with a $500,000 grant from Horowhenua District Council’s Better Off funding, which allowed for additional works not included in the original plans and funding for the rebuild of the new $3.2 million Waitarere Beach Surf Life Saving community facility.
The work would give a facelift to amenities for a beach community that swells in number during the summer months.
Mayor Bernie Wanden said he loved a day at the beach, as did many others in the district and beyond.
“These big projects will solidify Waitarere Beach’s reputation as one of New Zealand’s hottest spots to visit, especially in summer.”
Once the works were fully completed they would further enhance the beach’s reputation.
“Waitarere Beach is much loved and visited by thousands of people each year. We are excited to upgrade the carpark to add to this positive experience for locals and visitors alike.
“Thank you for your patience while work is undertaken to take this space to the next level,” he said.
While the new Waitarere Beach Surf Life Saving facility is due to open early next month, the additional work that began last month on the carpark upgrade isn’t expected to be completed until the end of summer.
To keep disruption to a minimum this summer, the carpark will remain open with sections closed as different parts of the area were upgraded.
The existing public toilets are now closed and will be relocated to a new site in late 2023, although there were public toilets available at the Waitarere Beach Domain further up the road.
The recycling station at the carpark will also remain open during the construction period.
Surf club president Andrew Parkin said demolition of the old surf club began on Monday.
The earthquake-prone building, built in the early 1950s, had become run down and was no longer fit for purpose.
While the old building held memories and had served the community well, Parkin said the new building was brilliant and the club was looking forward to summer.
“It’s amazing. You can’t compare the two,” he said.
It’s raised positioning nearer the beach would further improve their ability to patrol what was an accreting beach, evident in how far from the waters edge the old building had become over time.
Parkin said Kete Horowhenua had digitised all history in the old building and any relevant artefacts were collected up to be stored in boxes.
There will be an opening ceremony and community open day planned sometime next month, which coincides with the start of the summer patrol season.
Meanwhile, the new Surf Life Saving Club community facility, which can host up to 200 people, is equipped with:
● A patrol tower or watch room
● Training and beach education rooms for junior surf development and youth beach safety education which are open to school groups, the public and members of the club
● Kitchen and facilities to accommodate up to 200 people for community related events that closely align with surf life saving
● Changing rooms, toilets and showers
● First aid room
● Storage facilities for the Surf Life Saving Club’s rescue and training equipment
● Other features include a deck, patio, barbecue area, outside rinse showers and a wash-down forecourt.
Council contractor Homestead Construction began working on the project in November 2022.