Picture: ANDREW KACIMAIWAI
Thousands of surf lifesaving volunteers have returned to the NSW coastline for the start of the 2024-25 patrol season.
Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib launched the season at Sydney’s Coogee Beach on Saturday (September 28).
The patrol season will run to April 27, 2025, with more than 21,000 Surf Life Saving NSW (SLSNSW) volunteers on the beaches.
“As the weather warms up and patrol season kicks in, it’s a timely reminder to people to always swim between the flags and follow the advice of Surf Life Saving NSW volunteers and professionals,” Mr Dib says.
“Our volunteer lifesavers do an incredible job, and people need to do their bit by swimming in patrolled areas during patrol hours – no matter how strong a swimmer you consider yourself to be.”
He says the government is rolling out new jet skis, rescue vehicles and Emergency Response Beacons statewide.
“Awareness is key. Through expanded community programs and a new national water safety campaign, we’re reaching at-risk groups with life-saving knowledge that will make a real difference this summer,” he says.
The rollout will include 14 new jet skis statewide, 11 rescue vehicles to be upgraded for remote callouts, eight new Emergency Response Beacons (ERBs) installed at higher risk locations, the installation/retrofitting of rescue tube devices to ERBs and a new coastal safety data hub for the sharing of coastal and water safety data.
A new water safety campaign will target the high coastal drowning toll by reaching out to at-risk audiences, the government says.
Last year, there were 61 coastal drownings, all at unpatrolled locations or outside patrol hours.
The SLSNSW says it responded to 805 emergency callouts, deploying lifesaving assets such as rescue boats, jet skis, drones, and helicopters.
Last patrol season, volunteers and lifeguards performed more than 4400 rescues and about 1.1 million preventative actions.
During patrol season, volunteer lifesavers monitor 129 beaches across the state on the weekends and public holidays.
Outside the season, many beaches are monitored by council lifeguards, the government says.
