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Marking the start of the official summer season in NSW, Sutherland Shire Council's professional lifeguards have completed their annual pre-season training and have resumed patrols at Cronulla’s four designated swimming beaches located at Cronulla beach, North Cronulla beach, Elouera beach and Wanda beach. All four are patrolled daily throughout the summer season (end of September to end of April).

Sutherland Shire’s lifeguards are trained using the Australian Qualification Framework - Lifeguard Education and Training pathway, and combined with tools and equipment including jet skis, ATV’s, drones and a complete coastal safety CCTV network that covers all areas of Bate Bay, and are considered to offer the best possible protection to swimmers at the Shire’s beaches.

Sutherland Shire Mayor, Councillor Carmelo Pesce said Council lifeguards have already been kept busy with the weather warming up ahead of summer, advising “just this weekend our lifeguards were involved in the successful search and rescue of a kite surfer reported missing from Silver Beach, Kurnell on Saturday morning.

“With the weather warming up, it’s no surprise that people want to get out on the water and enjoy our beautiful beaches, but please swim at patrolled beaches, in between the red and yellow flags and if there is a ‘beach closed’ sign or you don’t see the flags, please stay out of the water.

“Also, if you’re heading out beyond the whitewash, make sure someone knows where you are and when you’re due to arrive home.”

Council lifeguards work alongside Surf Life Saving NSW volunteers across weekends and public holidays and last summer were involved in 804 rescues across Bate Bay beaches, nearly double the number of rescues from the previous season.

Mayor Pesce added "the amazing thing about that statistic is despite the high number of rescues, no lives were lost at our patrolled beaches thanks to our hardworking lifeguards.”

Sutherland Shire is home to over five kilometres of stunning beaches that attract more than seven million people per year and while it’s known for some of the best surfing breaks in Australia, it’s also fast becoming a hot destination for other water sports.

Mayor Pesce  also advised: “To ensure everyone has a safe summer once again at our beaches, I’m pleased to welcomed an additional nine seasonal staff members and 25 casual staff who have spent the past week running through physical competency testing, reaccreditations and learning the latest rescue techniques at the forefront of the professional ocean lifeguard industry.

For more information go to www.sutherlandshire.nsw.gov.au/Outdoors/Beaches/Beach-Lifeguards

Image credit: John Veage photography.

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