Surf Life Saving NSW’s Project Blueprint aims to help reduce drowning deaths by assessing every coastal location in NSW, including beaches and rock headlands.

The project team were due to be in Port Stephens this week to assess 105 kilometres of coastline between Tomaree Head and Stockton.

As part of the project, community feedback was being sought.

Residents were encouraged to head along to Fingal Bay Surf Life Saving Club on Wednesday, September 9 or Birubi Point Surf Life Saving Club on Thursday, September 10 for a community forum.

Both run between 6.30pm and 8pm.

“In a research project such as this it is our experience that some of the best information can be gleamed from talking to people who know the area intimately,” Surf Life Saving NSW coastal risk manager Adam Weir said.

“That is why we strongly encourage anyone who can come along to one of our forums to do so and help us develop a blueprint to reduce the risk of drowning along the Port Stephens coastline.”

According to Surf Life Saving NSW, since 2004 there have been seven coastal drownings within the Port Stephens Local Government Area and 44 major incidents logged with Surf Rescue Emergency Response in the past seven years.

More than 350 people have drowned along the NSW coast in the last decade.

While the incidents have been varied, a vast majority were people caught in rip currents while swimming, or swept from rocks while fishing.

Almost all occurred at unpatrolled locations or outside patrol hours.

Community forums:

1. Wednesday, September 9, 6.30pm - 8pm

Fingal Bay Surf Life Saving Club, 3 Marine Drive, Fingal Bay

2. Thursday, September 10, 6.30pm - 8pm

Birubi Point Surf Life Saving Club