Birubi surf club's president Rob Duff said the proposed plans for a new-look clubhouse and restaurant would mean 'drastically reduced' response times and an 'increased survival rate'.

The call comes after a young Asian woman was plucked from the surf by a quick-thinking board rider after getting caught in a rip on Wednesday.

She was flown to hospital and released the next day.

"But the point is, if we had the clubhouse that we desperately need, there would have been a full-time caretaker here who would be a fully-trained member of the club and could have got the IRB (inflatable rescue boat) out within minutes.

Mr Duff hailed the actions of Wade Harty who rescued the woman and brought her to shore.

"Had that surfer not been there things could have ended up very differently," he said.

"It shouldn't take a disaster for people to realise what we need."

Mr Harty a Corlette resident, said he was just at the right place at the right time, adding that it was not uncommon to see rips forming near the rocks at Birubi Beach.

"I couldn't see her at first but when I spotted her I got out on my board and was pretty keen to get to her, " he said.

"She went under for a bit so I just reached down and grabbed her."