With holiday time almost here, volunteer surf lifesavers and professional lifeguards from the Australian Lifeguard Service are gearing up for another busy summer watching over our beautiful beaches.

Traditionally the period between Christmas and New Year is one of the busiest times for members of the lifesaving community.



We are expecting record crowds on our beaches as families flock to destinations right around the state in an effort to unwind after a long year.



Some visitors to our coast may not be familiar with the surf if they only experience it when on holidays.



This combined with the excess of celebrations including alcohol consumption can be a dangerous mix and we strongly urge people to swim at a patrolled location.



Last season 53 people drowned in NSW coastal waters with 66% of these tragedies occurring more than 5 kilometres from the nearest lifesaving service.



NSW Operations Manager Andy Kent says the message was simple:



“The best place for your guests to swim is at a patrolled location. We strongly encourage everyone to make that extra effort to go to where those red and yellow flags are flying.” The 2016/17 Patrol season runs from September 19 2016 through to Tuesday 25 April 2017.



Volunteer surf lifesavers will be out on patrol each weekend and public holiday with patrols at our 129 surf clubs between Fingal Rovers near the Tweed and Pambula on the Far South Coast. Lifeguards also patrol at many beaches on weekdays and weekends throughout summer.



Lifeguard Summer Patrol Locations



Tweed Area



• Duranbah/Flagstaff 21/12/16 to 29/01/17 (7 days)

• Fingal – 21/12/16 to 27/01/17 (5 days)

• North Kingscliff – 10/12/16 to 26/01/17 (7 days)

• Cudgen/Kingscliff 21/12/16 to 27/01/17 (5 days)

• Salt 21/12/17 – 27/01/17 (5 days)

• Casuarina 21/12/16 to 29/01/1 (7 days)

• Cabarita 21/12/16 to 27/01/17 (5 days)

• Hastings 21/12/16 to 29/01/17 (7 days)

• Pottsville (North) 21/12/16 to 29/01/17 (7 days)

• Mooball (Pottsville South) 21/12/16 to 29/01/17 (7 days)



Byron Bay Area



• South Golden 21/12/16 to 29/01/17 (7 days)

• Brunswick Heads 21/12/16 to 27/01/17 (5 days)

• First Sun 21/12/16 to 29/01/17 (7 days)

• Main Beach Byron (continuous)

• The Pass 21/12/16 to 29/01/17 (7 days)

• Wategos 21/12/16 to 29/01/17 (7 days)

• Tallows 21/12/16 to 29/01/17 (7 days)

• Suffolk Park 21/12/16 to 29/01/17 (7 days)

• Broken Head 21/12/16 to 29/01/17 (7 days)



Ballina Area



• Lennox Head (Seven Mile) 26/09/16 to 24/04/17 (5 days)

• Sharpes 21/12/16 to 29/01/17 (7 days)

• Shelly 21/12/16 to 29/01/17 (7 days)

• Lighthouse 21/12/16 to 27/01/17 (5 days)



Richmond Valley Area



• Evans Head 21/12/16 to 27/01/17 (5 days)



Clarence Valley Area



• Iluka 21/12/16 to 29/01/17 (7 days)

• Turners 9/12/16 to 29/01/17 (7 days)

• Main Beach Yamba 9/12/16 to 29/01/17 (7 days)

• Pippies 21/12/16 to 29/01/17 (7 days)

• Brooms Head 21/12/16 to 29/01/17 (7 days)

• Minnie Water 21/12/16 to 27/01/17 (5 days)

• Wooli 21/12/16 to 29/01/17 (7 days)



Bellingen Area



• North Beach 21/12/16 to 29/01/17 (5 days + ½ on weekends)

• Hungry Beach 21/12/16 to 29/01/17 (5 days + ½ on weekends)



Nambucca Area



• Valla Beach 21/12/16 to 29/01/17 (7 days)

• Nambucca 21/12/16 to 27/01/17 (5 days)

• Scott’s Head 21/12/16 to 27/01/17 (5 days)



Kempsey Area



• Grassy Head 19/12/16 to 26/01/17 (7 days)

• South West Rocks (Horseshoe Bay) 19/12/16 to 26/01/17 (7 days)

• South West Rocks 21/12/16 to 27/01/17 (5 days)

• Hat Head 21/12/16 to 27/01/17 (5 days)

• Kempsey/Crescent Head 21/12/16 to 27/01/17 (5 days)



Port Macquarie – Hastings Area



• Town Beach 24/09/16 – 25/05/17 (7 days)

• Flynns 26/09/16 to 24/04/17 (5 days) • Tacking/Lighthouse 21/12/16 to 27/01/17 (5 days)

• Lake Cathie 21/12/16 to 29/01/17 (7 days)

• Wauchope-Bonny Hills 21/12/16 to 27/01/17 (5 days)

• Camden Haven 21/12/16 to 27/01/17 (5 days)



Greater Taree Area



• Crowdy Head 21/12/16 to 27/01/17 (5 days)

• Old Bar 21/12/16 to 27/01/17 (5 days)

• Diamond Beach 21/12/16 to 29/01/17 (7 days)

• Black Head 21/12/16 to 27/01/17 (5 days)



Great Lakes Area



• Forster 21/12/16 to 27/01/17 (5 days)

• One Mile 21/12/16 to 27/01/17 (5 days)

• Elizabeth 21/12/16 to 27/01/17 (5 days)

• Hawks Nest 21/12/16 to 27/01/17 (5 days)

• Tea Gardens Pool 10/10/16 to 25/04/17 (7 days)



Port Stephens Area



• Fingal 26/09/16 to 24/04/17 (5 days)

• One Mile 24/09/16 to 25/04/17 (7 days)

• Birubi Point 26/09/16 to 24/04/17 (5 days)



Frazer/Magenta Area



• Munmorah National Park 21/12/16 to 29/01/17 (7 days)



Pittwater Area



• North Palm Beach 28/11/16 to 28/02/17 (5 days)

• Palm Beach 1/12/16 to 24/04/17 (5 days)

• Whale Beach 1/12/16 to 24/04/17 (5 days)

• Avalon Beach 1/12/16 to 24/04/17 (5 days)

• Bilgola Beach 1/12/16 to 24/04/17 (5 days)

• Newport 1/12/16 to 24/04/17 (5 days)

• Bungan 1/12/16 to 24/04/17 (5 days)

• Mona Vale 1/12/16 to 24/04/17 (5 days)

• Warriewood 1/12/16 to 24/04/17 (5 days)



Parramatta Area



• Parramatta Lake 19/12/16 to 26/01/17 (7 days)



Royal National Park



• Garie 19/12/16 to 27/01/17 (5 days)



Shoalhaven Area



• Shoalhaven Heads 17/12/16 to 29/01/17 (6 days)

• Crookhaven (North Culburra) 17/12/16 to 29/01/17 (7 days)

• Tilbury (South Culburra) 17/12/16 to 29/01/17 (7 days)

• Warraine 19/12/16 to 27/01/17 (5 days)

• Cudmirrah 17/12/16 to 29/01/17 (7 days)

• Narrawallee 19/12/16 to 27/01/17 (5 days)

• North Mollymook 19/12/16 to 27/01/17 (5 days)

• South Mollymook 28/11/16 to 24/02/17 (5 days)



Bega Valley Area



• Camel Rock 26/12/16 to 29/01/17 (7 days)

• Bermagui (Horse Shoe Bay) 19/12/16 to 27/01/17 (5 days)

• Tathra 19/12/16 to 27/01/17 (5 days)

• Short Point 26/12/16 to 29/01/17 (7 days)

• Bar Beach 26/12/16 to 29/01/17 (7 days)

• Merimbula (Main Beach) 26/12/16 to 29/01/17 (7 days)

• Pambula 19/12/16 to 27/01/17 (5 days)

• Eden (Aslings) 19/12/16 to 29/01/16 (7 days)



 



Monday 19 December 2016