ORGANISING adequate patrols at local beaches, and ensuring local and visitors alike are safe while at the region’s beaches, seems to be a constant battle.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Time and time again there seems to be an ongoing debate about how many beaches should be patrolled and when, weighed up against the budgetary constraints faced by Shoalhaven City Council.
At the moment this community has done what it seems to do best – filling the void left by the official resources and met the cost of providing lifeguards this week.
While this is commendable and shows fantastic community spirit from all involved, it simply should not be happening.
Council is regularly promoting the regions beaches and its caravan parks, from which it makes large sums of money each year.
With such a strong focus on promoting the coastal lifestyle, of promoting the area’s pristine beaches, and on filling its coffers with the money of people who come to the area to enjoy the sun, sand and surf, council has moral if not a legal obligation to ensure it is doing all it can to ensure the safety of people using the beaches and waterways.
In contrast Surf Life Saving NSW, local clubs and the Australian Lifeguard Service has for years been talking of the need to provide patrols over the Easter school when the region is swamped with visitors and the surf conditions are often challenging.
In recent days we have seen warnings about dangerous surf conditions, and these are common around Easter and the school holidays when people are taking to the water, often unaware and ill prepared for what awaits.
So what will it take for council to take this responsibility seriously?
Does it require another death at one of the Shoalhaven’s popular swimming spots, even though there have been too many deaths already?
While all will concede there cannot be patrols at all beaches all the time, surely we can do better than what is being offered at present.
The surf life saving clubs do tremendous work keeping people safe on the days they are on duty, but for the rest of the days we need more professional lifeguards, pattricularly at peak times life the Easter holidays.