Deck the beaches with safety first
Image: A group of Nippers at the North Bondi Mango Mess-tival
With extra lifeguards preparing to patrol Eastern Suburbs beaches this summer, the Christmas season has sparked talks over consolidating safety provisions on Waverley shores.
The December 2012 National Coastal Safety Report confirmed an increase in coastal drowning deaths in NSW, with 89 per cent of fatalities male. In 2011-12, there were 47 confirmed coastal drowning deaths across the state, an increase from the 2010-11 figure of 22.
Currently there are four Surf Life Saving Clubs (SLSC) in Waverley, catering for Bronte, Tamarama, North Bondi and Bondi beaches.
Tamarama SLSC captain Sandra Fox said safety was crucial for local beaches during the Christmas period and more volunteers were needed for 2012/13.
“There needs to be a lot of vigilance,” she said. “We need a lot more patrols; we have to make sure we have enough people patrolling the beaches.”
According to Ms Fox, Tamarama is a beach extremely difficult to patrol and was ranked as the most dangerous beach in NSW, and third in Australia.
According to Councillor Paula Masselos, there were no fatalities at Waverley beaches in the last year. She said it is important for Council to expand existing programs to ensure current safety provisions were maintained at an equally high standard.
“Lifesavers are strong community role models,” Ms Masselos said. “I am concerned about the viability of the clubs … We need to investigate developing a stronger career path for more of our lifesavers as a full-time career.”
Councillor Angela Burrill, a member of the Waverley Community Safety Advisory Committee, said Council has had a successful long-term relationship with local police and park rangers in enforcing safety first measures.
Fellow safety committee member, Councillor Joy Clayton said Waverley had come a long way in the provision of beach safety since the Bondi Beach riots of 1995 which called for a review of the existing system.
“The problem is people were not showing enough responsibility for their own actions,” she said. “This is what we focus on in the committee.
“We work hand-in-hand to ensure our residents and visitors are looked after at all times.”
North Bondi SLSC is also proactive about safety through the development of its young lifesaver Nippers program. On December 2, the club had a fundraiser event, ‘Mango Mess-tival’, with all funds going towards the reconstruction of North Bondi SLSC’s new clubhouse.
“We’ve raised a whopping $12,000 to go towards our new clubhouse,” North Bondi SLSC Vice-President Mark Cotter said. “We couldn’t have asked for a better start to summer. We are already looking forward to making it bigger and better next year.”
The venue is due for completion in 2013 and will play a critical role in the training and development of thousands of Nippers.
