Warrington Surf Lifesaving Club Receives $300,000 Grant for Critical Facility Rebuild

Media Release

Warrington Surf Life Saving Club has been awarded a significant $300,000 grant from Otago Community Trust to rebuild its aging lifeguarding facility, marking a crucial investment in community safety.

The project will replace the club's 40-year-old A-frame structure with a purpose-built two-storey facility that includes a lifeguard tower, observation deck and first aid room, among other features. The current facility will be completely replaced to meet modern safety and operational standards.

The club plays a critical role in beach safety, performing more than 1,200 preventative actions in the last season. The new facility will support the club's rapid growth, coinciding with the expansion of the Warrington community, which has seen an increase in new residential builds as well as the development of a large Freedom Camping ground.

"The generous award of a grant by the Otago Community Trust will support Warrington Surf Life Saving Club in replacing the original A-frame club building, which is now over 40 years old” said Mark Hastie, Club Captain at Warrington Surf Life Saving Club. “These upgrades will significantly enhance the capacity of our club to deliver lifesaving services, providing our volunteers with the facilities they need to perform their duties effectively,  support the development of our junior members to become the lifeguards of the future, and continue to deliver programmes to support and promote water safety and develop surf sport capability for children and young people in the local community, utilising a fit-for-purpose modern facility."

The club has strong community ties, with some families having been involved with the club across three generations - currently, there are over 100 members under the age of 14 and a multi-generational volunteer base ranging from 15 to 58 years old. The new facility will provide a much-needed upgrade to support the club's comprehensive programs, including its dedicated ‘Nippers’ lifeguard training initiative that prepares young members to become future lifesavers.

Beyond its lifesaving services, the club has become a critical community resource, offering beach education programs and surf safety courses for local junior and secondary school students. The new facility will enhance the club's ability to deliver these vital community services, providing a modern, functional space that supports training, equipment storage, and community engagement.

With its continued growth and commitment to community service, the Warrington Surf Life Saving Club stands as a testament to the power of volunteer-driven organisations in ensuring public safety and youth development.