The 2017-2018 beach patrol season will kick off on Saturday.
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More than 20,000 volunteer surf lifesavers will begin patrolling beaches along the NSW coastline on weekends and public holidays from September 23 until April 25, 2018.
In Port Stephens volunteer surf lifesavers patrol Birubi Beach and Fingal Beach.
Port Stephens Council also contracts the Australian Lifeguard Service to patrol the beaches during the peak summer period.
In the 2016-17 season, the ALS and Surf Life Saving volunteers conducted 47 rescues and 25,827 preventative actions, down from 50 rescues and 35,691 preventative actions in the season prior.
In the 2016-17 season it was estimated 507,051 people attended Port Stephens beaches, down from 719,376 the previous season.
The council also logged 795 instances of law enforcement action last season, half the 1,663 in the previous period.
On Friday, before the start of the patrol season, Surf Life Saving NSW released a report that reinforces the importance of beach safety ahead of what is anticipated to be a busy season on NSW beaches.
The 2017 Surf Life Saving NSW Coastal Safety Report comprehensively reviews and assesses the current and historical coastal drowning data as well as gives an overview of the state’s Surf Life Saving assets and capability.
For 2016/17, some key findings include:
- While total coastal drownings for the year numbered 31, down from a record-high of 53 the previous year, there was a big spike in drownings at the height of summer.
- Overwhelmingly, males continue to represent the majority of drowning deaths – 90%
- 29% of people who drowned were aged 20-29.
- 42% of people drowned while swimming, predominantly as a result of being caught in rip currents, and 19% died while rock fishing.
- Almost 70% of drownings occurred more than 5km from a patrolled location, suggesting the swim between the flags message is not being heeded by many people.
The report was presented to NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian by SLS NSW CEO Steven Pearce as part of the annual raising the flags ceremony, held this year at Sydney’s Maroubra Beach on Friday.
“This report and its findings will play an important role in our understanding of what it happening on the NSW coastline and will help us better utilise our assets and capabilities as we move into the season ahead,” Mr Pearce said.
This season will see surf lifesavers expand their use of drones, including the new shark algorithm technology SharkSpotter.
