Crowd numbers across Lake Macquarie beaches dipped almost 40 per cent this patrolled season due to wild weather causing some hazardous conditions along the coast.
Attendance across Lake Macquarie’s four patrolled beaches was estimated at 767,000 from September 2021 to April 2022, down from 1.22 million the previous year.
Despite this, Lake Macquarie City Council lifeguards said they remained busy throughout the season, performing 160 rescues and providing first aid to almost 900 people.
Senior Beach Lifeguard, Lucas Samways, said the number of rescues completed was similar to last season, despite the lower attendances.
“It points to the fact that conditions have been quite hazardous, and people have been keen to get out there and swim on the few sunny days we’ve had,” Samways said.
He said the frequently treacherous surf conditions, including March’s destructive east coast low and subsequent erosion, had contributed to lower visitor numbers.
“We haven’t seen the frequency or intensity of some of these weather events for many years, and that has certainly impacted the number of people coming to the beach,” Samways said.
“We’ve also had some unusual conditions, including the sea foam that enveloped our beaches beyond the normal high-water mark and the east coast low swell that made it up to the Redhead surf club building.”
Lake Macquarie Mayor, Kay Fraser, congratulated the city’s lifeguards on their work over the 2021-2022 patrolled season.
“It has been a very challenging few months for our lifeguards due to the prolonged dangerous conditions, but we are fortunate to have some of the best in the business here in Lake Mac,” Cr Fraser said.
“They have worked tirelessly and vigilantly to ensure visitors to our patrolled beaches remain safe.”
This season, hazardous surf prompted 100 beach closures, rips forced 18 closures, storms and lightning accounted for 15 and poor water quality for four.
Beach closures due to shark sightings fell from 16 last season to just six this season.
While the patrolled beach season at Redhead, Blacksmiths, Caves Beach and Catherine Hill Bay has ended, lifeguards will remain busy throughout the cooler months.
Council lifeguards are also scheduled to visit dozens of schools across Lake Mac between now and September, teaching children the basics of surf safety and first aid.
Maia O’Connor