Birubi, Fingal and One Mile beaches will be patrolled seven days a week, between 9am and 5pm. The Port Stephens Life Guard Service will be on duty during the week. 

“We’ve spent the off-season reviewing statistics and improving our processes,” Port Stephens Lifeguard supervisor Phil Rock said.

“We’ll be working closely with volunteer lifesavers to continue to educate beach-goers on how to stay safe at the beach. For us, the message is always the same – take note of the conditions before entering the water, always swim between the red and yellow flags and follow the directions of lifeguards or lifesavers.”

Port Stephens Council’s contracts and services coordinator, Ian Crawford, said there had been “significant investment” made into providing new lifesaving equipment which would increase the level of safety on the Port’s beaches.​