As the weather warms in the lead up to summer, residents and visitors to the Tweed Shire will be able to cool off at the beach under the watchful eye of Lifeguards from the Australian Lifeguard Service.
This season marks a first for the ALS with Lifeguards now patrolling Kingscliff Main Beach for seven months from September through to April.
Earlier this week statistics from the September-October reporting period were released and it makes for pleasing reading.
Lifeguards at Kingscliff Main Beach have been involved in just one significant rescue – that is to stop serious injury or fatality, and one first aid treatment. As always the focus has been on preventative actions to ensure that rescues are only required as a last resort, and to that end the team have been kept busy undertaking 785 interactions with swimmers and beachgoers.
Additionally over 11,000 people have visited Kingscliff Main Beach despite the sometimes erratic spring weather with Lifeguards predicting those numbers will surge as summer approaches.
This new weekday service, which will continue until the end of the April school holidays, ensures comprehensive beach coverage for locals and visitors alike, and reinforces the ALS’s commitment to the area.
ALS NSW Northern Coordinator Scott McCartney said having Lifeguards on the beach for longer is an extremely positive move by Tweed Shire Council leading into summer.
“As Kingscliff Main Beach continues to be the busiest in the Tweed Valley it became clear that additional Lifeguard patrols were needed to help ensure the safety of the beach-going public.
“For the first time locals have access to a patrolled location during the week and Council should be congratulated on their forward thinking and pro-active approach to safety.
“We are delighted to be able to provide this service, and we encourage everyone in the area to make the decision to swim at this patrolled location. We are looking forward to another busy summer on the beach,” said Scott McCartney.
This service extension is part of a four-year contract renewal finalised recently as a result of the positive relationship between Tweed Shire Council and the ALS over almost 30 years.
This is a huge boost for the Tweed area.
The Kingscliff beachfront is set to become a tourist hotspot with significant investment being made by Council to upgrade the foreshore precinct and it is hoped that visitors will take advantage of Council ensuring they have a safe place to swim.