Your Club.
Your Community. Your Future.

Our Club

It is more than just a building. It’s an investment in the future of our beach, our people, and our community.

For generations, Ōmanu Surf Club has stood watch over our coastline protecting swimmers, training young lifesavers, supporting families, and creating a place where lifelong friendships and community spirit thrive. Now, it’s time to build a facility that can support the next generation for decades to come.

The vision for Ōmanu is to create a modern, fit-for-purpose clubhouse that strengthens lifesaving capability while becoming a welcoming hub for the wider community. 

What will change

What will this project provide?

  • Built to better withstand our coastal conditions, so it serves the community for decades to come.

  • Expanded basement storage for lifeguarding and sports equipment to keep gear secure and out of sight and reduce the building's footprint expansion above ground.

  • Fully code-compliant, with improved facilities throughout.

  • New facilities available for everyone using the beach, not just club members.

  • Enhanced beach and surf monitoring, with dedicated operational space for lifeguards to do their job effectively.

  • Thoughtfully designed spaces with better acoustics, supporting both club training and community use.

  • Improved pathways and layout around the club and reserve, for members and the public alike.

  • A facility designed to meet the needs of the club and wider community, now and into the future.

What Won't Change

What will stay the same?

  • No changes to the current licence hours.

  • Existing Club event guidelines, practices, and hours will remain the same.

  • No expansion beyond current scope of operations.

  • No extension or incursion into either area.

  • All existing beach access ways and the reserve area will remain open to the public.

A Legacy

A Home for Future Generations

Every summer, thousands of people enjoy our beaches. Behind the scenes, our volunteer surf lifesavers dedicate countless hours to patrols, training, rescues, youth development, and emergency response.

But our current facilities are no longer keeping pace with the needs of our growing club and community.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • Our current clubhouse has served the community for many years, but it no longer meets the needs of our growing club, lifesaving operations, and community programmes. A new facility will provide safer, modern spaces for training, patrols, equipment, and community use.

  • One of the unique things about the Omanu Surf Club is its location in the middle of a busy and growing residential community. The new building design and scope is a considered effort to ensure that we are striking a middle ground between making sure that we are future proofing the activities of the Club, that the new build is affordable, and importantly that the new building sits comfortably within its environment and the community.

  • The project is currently in the planning and consenting stage which will likely take most of 2026 to complete. Assuming this is achieved we would hope to be in a position to commence the build in Q1/Q2 of 2027 once the summer lifeguarding season is completed.

  • Realistically, it will likely take up to 12 months to complete. The aim is to achieve the bulk of the construction work during the winter months to minimise the impact on normal Surf Club and community activities.

  • Once the consenting process is complete, the project will go through a formal tender process. Experienced construction companies will be invited to submit proposals, which will be reviewed based on quality, experience, safety, cost, and ability to deliver the project.

  • The cost of the new building won’t be known until the consenting process and tendering work is completed. Cornerstone funding will be provided by Surf Lifesaving NZ and their Capital Grants funds with additional funding sought from grants, sponsorships, fundraising activities, and community contributions. More details on how the community can get involved and help with fundraising will follow once the consenting process is completed.

  • During the build the Club will need to move out of the existing site to allow the contractors to do their work. We are working with the Council to identify a dedicated space in close proximity to the current club where lifeguards and athletes can continue to operate out of with temporary facilities. Maintaining an effective lifeguarding service for the community over the construction period is paramount.

  • Absolutely. While there will inevitably be some minor inconveniences, the public will still be able to access the beach utilising the public beach accesses as well as having the safety of a fully functioning lifeguard service during the normal operating months.

  • The local community will have ample opportunity and be welcome to share their views during the notified Resource Consent period managed by the Council. In respect to the design and functionality of the proposed new build, the Omanu Surf Club and Surf Lifesaving NZ have put a lot of work in to ensure that the new building is absolutely fit for purpose and will create the best possible environment for a thriving and active Club and community both now and into the future.

  • We would love all the help we can get! Once the consenting process is complete, we will have a much clearer idea on timelines and the opportunities for people to get involved. Make sure you keep checking this site over the coming months to check for any updates.