Central Coast Council presented Surf Life Saving Central Coast (SLSCC) with a $116,000 cheque on October 20 at Toowoon Bay Surf Life Saving Club, the first instalment of a two-year sponsorship.
Council also provided a direct sponsorship to each of the 15 Surf Life Saving Clubs of $6,500 to offset rescue equipment for the season, with a total funding package of $213,500.
The funding agreement from Council and will assist in maintaining programs, activities, and the supply of rescue equipment for the clubs during the 2022-23 summer season.
Council Unit Manager Leisure Beach Safety and Community Facilities, Phil Cantillon, said Surf Life Saving Central Coast beach patrols make an invaluable contribution to the community’s safety.
“The unified partnership that exists between Council and Surf Life Saving Central Coast provides residents and visitors a seamless service each day of the beach season,” he said.
“The training and education programs included in this service contribute to a safer community and are known to promote beach safety while connecting families and young people right across the Central Coast.
“Local surf clubs are vital to our region, and the financial sponsorship will assist Surf Life Saving to buy the essential equipment and run the programs needed to keep our community safe for many summers to come.”
The money will be used to purchase rescue boards, IRB motors and beach signage and to help with servicing oxygen equipment, programming of radios within the new communication network and educational swim between the flag messaging.
Council has also purchased Can-Am side by side vehicles, a four-wheel-drive vehicle, two personal watercraft (PWC) vehicles, and durable beach signage, and arranged the installation and upgrade of new observation towers and PA systems which perform vital emergency response across the 15 patrolled beaches.
Surf Life Saving Central Coast Chief Executive Officer, Jon Harkness, thanked Council for its ongoing support and continued recognition of the services provided.
“The relationship Surf Life Saving Central Coast has with the Council is invaluable to both organisations and the community,” he said.
“The funding received enables us to purchase, maintain and share equipment to ensure we are rescue-ready every day of the season.
“The Central Coast is the most fortunate regions in NSW due to the positive working relationship and collaboration between both organisations.
“We work together to ensure we have seamless services seven days each week of the season.”
During the Central Coast’s 2021-22 Beach Patrol Season, SLSCC had a total of 8,387 active volunteer members across the 15 Surf Clubs, who delivered over 87,000 patrolling hours, completing 606 rescues and responding to over 100 emergency call outs and incidents.
SLSCC volunteer lifesavers patrol the region’s beaches on weekends and on public holidays, while Council lifeguards patrol from Monday to Friday.
Source:
Media release, Oct 21
Central Coast Council