Omanu Beach Surf Club is ramping up for the silly season, with consultation underway for a new vehicle access-way.

The club's current ramp is in continual need of repair and limits the effectiveness of lifeguards on patrol, says Omanu Beach Surf Life Saving Club director Dennis Mundy.

Dennis Mundy and Omanu resident Ian Glover inspect the current vehicle accessway.

'Our biggest concern at this stage is that we need year-round access to the ramp with our rescue vehicles. When we're getting storms and things like that coming through and taking out the bottom of the ramp, we can't use it.

'The last time that ramp was seriously looked at was when the club was around a 400 member club; we're now bulging at 800 members.”

A semi-permanent solution will be implemented before the swimming season officially starts in October, but the surf club is currently working with Tauranga City Council for a more lasting compromise.

Factors contributing to the decision include speed, cost to the taxpayer, and ecological concerns, says Dennis.

'Hopefully the formula's there and we get it right.”

Dennis understands funds for the new ramp are limited, but says the project's urgency cannot be denied.

'We would like to think that the final solution will be cost-effective, but it's one of those things that, irrespective of the cost, something needs to be done.”

In the end, he says, it's all about the public's satisfaction and safety.

'We are only one of the stakeholders, and we're trying as best we can to engage with the council, to try to make sure that not only we, but other people, are satisfied with the end result.”

TCC communications manager Frank Begley says the new construction will be a major step up.

'The existing ramp is basically a large sand ladder that continuously washes out and is undermined by storm events.”

Frank compares ongoing costs of the current ramp to the hopefully one-off expense of the new.

'Operational repairs have to be carried out numerous times throughout the year. This will be a more permanent structure which will eliminate the ongoing maintenance and repair costs.”