Beach Lifeguard Service

Council's Professional Beach Lifeguards

Surf Beach Kiama Downs Beach Bombo Beach Kendalls Beach East Beach
Werri Beach Seven Mile Beach Latest developments and General Information
Beach, Surf and Water Safety Tips

Patrolled Beaches

The Kiama Municipality is home to a number of picturesque beaches, which are suitable for a wide range of aquatic activities.

As a service to residents and visitors, Council provides a Professional Lifeguard service on the majority of its beaches.

Surf Beach

Surf Beach is a small beach situated in the heart of Kiama adjacent to Coronation Park. The beach is patrolled by Council’s Professional Lifeguards Monday to Friday from the start of third term school holidays (usually late September) until ANZAC day (April 25).

The patrol hours are

• 9:00am - 4:00pm
  (pre and post daylight savings)
• 9:00am - 5:00pm
  (during daylight saving) and;
• 9:00am - 6:00pm
  (during Christmas school holidays).

Surf Beach is also home to the Kiama Surf Lifesaving Club, which provides voluntary patrols throughout the beach season on weekends and public holidays.

The voluntary patrol hours may vary throughout the season.

Kiama Downs Beach

Kiama Downs is situated in the northern part of the Municipality adjacent to North Kiama Drive.

The Beach is approximately one kilometre in length and is the home of Kiama Downs Surf Lifesaving Club, which is situated at the northern end of the beach.

The northern end of the beach is patrolled by volunteer lifesavers on weekends and public holidays during the beach season, the voluntary patrol hours may vary throughout the beach season.

This is supplemented by Council’s Professional Lifeguards on Monday to Friday,

• The patrol hours are 10:00am - 6:00pm during the Christmas/New Year school holidays.

Like Surf Beach, Kiama Downs Beach experiences dangerous rips and currents on occasion.

Beach goers should only swim between the flags during patrol hours.

While the beach is patrolled it is suitable for surfboard riding, body board riding and body surfing.

Bombo Beach

Bombo Beach is the first beach visible from the Princess Highway after leaving Sydney. It provides excellent conditions for surfboard riders. The northern end of the beach is patrolled by Council’s Professional Lifeguards:

• The patrol hours are
  10:00am - 6:00pm (seven days a week during the Christmas/New Year school holidays).

Beach goers should only swim when the beach is patrolled.

Kendalls Beach

Kendalls Beach is situated just south of Surf Beach, adjacent to the Kendalls Beach holiday park.

It is one of Council’s most protected beaches and is most suited to young families. It is patrolled by Council’s Professional Lifeguards;

• The patrol hours are 10:00am - 6:00pm (seven days a week during the Christmas/New Year school holiday period):

Like all of Council’s beaches Kendalls Beach can experience dangerous conditions on occasions, and as a result beach goers should exercise care and swim between the flags

East Beach

Easts Beach is situated on the southern side of Kiama adjacent to Easts Beach holiday park.

While east beach is very protected and is considered to be one of the Municipality’s safest beaches, it can experience a large swell with dangerous shore breaks during easterly swells.

Easts beach is patrolled by Council’s Professional Lifeguards:

• The patrol hours are 10:00am - 6:00pm (seven days per week during the Christmas/ New Year school holidays).

Werri Beach

Werri Beach is located at Gerringong in the Southern in the southern part of the Municipality and is home to Gerringong Lifesaving Club.

The beach is an excellent Surf Beach of approximately 1.5km in length. The surf club is located at the southern end of the beach.

The southern end of the beach is patrolled by volunteer lifesavers on weekends and public holidays during the beach season, the voluntary patrol hours may vary throughout the season.

Werri is patrolled by Council’s Professional Lifeguards from Monday to Friday;

• The patrol hours are 10:00am – 6:00pm (during the during the Christmas/New Year school holiday period).

Werri beach is generally suitable for surfboard riding, body board riding and body surfing. It experiences dangerous conditions at times so beach goers should exercise caution and only swim during patrol hours.

Seven Mile Beach

Seven Mile Beach extends from Gerroa to Shoalhaven Heads. It is an extremely open beach which experiences quite windy conditions.

The northern end of the beach is patrolled by Council’s Professional Lifeguards seven days per week during the during the Christmas/New Year school holiday period.

While the beach is suitable for all beach activities it experiences dangerous conditions in big seas. Beach goers should exercise care and only swim during patrol hours.

Latest developments and general information

• All of Council's lifeguards are members of the Australian Professional Ocean Lifeguard Association (APOLA) and undertake a rigorous assessment process on an annual basis.
  
  
• Kiama Municipal Council has been providing a Professional Lifeguards service since 1981, they work closely with the local volunteer lifesavers and emergency services to keep our beaches safe.
• Mayor Sandra McCarthy and the Beach Lifeguards.
  
  
• In 2005/2006 Council engaged a full time lifeguard who is responsible for coordinating the lifesaving programme.
  
  
• During the summer holiday period Kiama Council employs over 20 Professional lifeguards to patrol Council’s seven beaches, keeping the beaches safe for both residents and holiday markers.
  
  
• All of Kiama Council’s Professional Lifeguards are members of the Australian Professional Ocean Lifeguard Association (APOLA) they are highly qualified and multi-skilled athletes and undertake a rigorous assessment process on an annual basis.
  
  
  
• Kiama Council’s Professional Lifeguards service staff are paid as Professional staff of Council and wear nationally recognised blue and white lifeguard uniforms.
  
  
• Council’s lifeguard budget has increased substantially over the years with the introduction of a personal water ski which is stationed at Surf Beach, quad bikes, portable lifeguard towers, rescue boards and most recently a 4WD truck.
• Lifeguards - surf challenge
  
  
• Council also provides a Lifeguard patrol service outside of the specified patrol times on request on a fee for service basis. Any school or private group wishing to access this service can contact Council’s beach lifeguard Coordinator on (02) 4232 0459
  
  
• Council also provides surf education programme on a fee for service basis. Any school or private group wishing to access this service can contact Council’s lifeguard supervisor on 0408 414 967
  
  
• Kiama Council currently has a international lifeguard exchange programme with the Royal National Lifeboat Institute beach rescue unit in Cornwall England.
  
  
• Kiama Council’s annual lifeguard recruitment occurs in August every year, expressions of interest are open all year round, and the Lifeguard supervisor can be contacted
  on 0408 414 967.
  
  
• The annual South Coast Lifeguard Challenge takes place every December at Council’s main beach “Surf Beach” and is contested between both Shellharbour and Wollongong’s Professional Lifeguard Services, Kiama Council are the current champions in both the individual and relay events.
  
  
  
  
• Starting line-up
  
  
  

  Quick Facts

  Each year more than 400,000 people are recorded as visiting patrolled beaches in Kiama. Kiama Council Professional Lifeguards perform more than 100 rescues each year. 9000+ preventative actions are carried out each year for example public address warnings, verbal warnings and signage displayed on beaches.

  
  

  Lifeguards Duties

  Lifeguards abilities and duties include:

  • Accurately assessing beach conditions.
  • Choosing suitable swimming locations.
  • Providing advise and regulatory beach signage.
  • Performing rescues and providing first aid.
  • Advising and enforcing local Council laws.
  • Preparing and delivering surf education.
  • Liaising with other rescue and emergency organisations.
  • Providing beach and water surveillance.
  • Maintaining and using tower surveillance systems.

   

  Lifeguards are also experienced in the use of rescue and support equipment, including:

  • Rescue boards and tubes
  • LPC (Lifeguard Power Craft)
  • Whistles and public address systems
  • Four wheel drives and quad bikes
  • Two way communication
  • Oxygen/first aid
  • Defibrillators
  • Spinal stabilisation equipment

  
  

Beach, surf and water safety tips

• Swim at beaches regularly patrolled by professional lifeguards and volunteer lifesavers.
  
  
• Swim between the red and yellow flags, which indicate the safest place to swim.
  
  
• Look for, read and obey signs before swimming.
  
  
• Check swimming conditions and ask the duty lifeguards or lifesavers if you are uncertain about the conditions.
  
  
• Swim under supervision.
  
  
• Never swim alone.
  
  
• Never dive into the water without checking the water depth.
  
  
• Do not swim directly after eating.
  
  
• Do not swim under the influence of drugs including alcohol.
  
  
• Do not panic if in difficulty - stay calm, raise and wave one arm to signal for help and float (do not swim against the current).
  
  
• Please take your rubbish with you; only leave your footprints behind.