Surf Life Saving Queensland stretched with huge crowds, slashed revenue
Queensland’s lifesavers are likely to be stretched to breaking point this summer, with domestic tourists expected to head to our beaches and funding due to run out in December.
QLD News
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There are fears Queensland lifesavers will be stretched to breaking point this summer as hordes of Aussies unable to travel overseas flock to our beaches.
Surf Life Saving Queensland is bracing for its busiest season ever, while the iconic service is also desperately seeking an extension to State government funding due to expire in December.
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Ahead of the start of the 2020-21 season on Saturday, SLSQ will release its annual Coast Safe report, with a number of concerning findings to be highlighted.
While the total number of beach drownings was down 52 per cent on the previous season to 11, lifesavers are alarmed at the large proportion of Australian victims – busting the stereotype that it is mainly international tourists who drown at our beaches.
According to the Coast Safe report, 45 per cent of Queensland drowning victims were Australian while 80 per cent of beach rescues were Aussies.
Almost three quarters of drowning victims were male and more than 60 per cent were over the age of 50.
SLSQ CEO Dave Whimpey said lifesavers would again be stretched trying to keep people safe on the state’s beaches this season.
“We believe we’re going to be busier than ever this season,” he said.
“Every year we look after 30 million people at Queensland beaches and even though we’re not going to have international visitors any time soon, we’re expecting those numbers to be more than ever because of the number of people who will be holidaying locally themselves.”
The impact of the coronavirus is also two-fold – not only are officials expecting to contend with record crowds, they are also doing it with vastly reduced revenue after the licenced venues that sustain many surf clubs were closed for months.
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A three-year funding package from the State Government under the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Levy is also due to expire in weeks, with no money guaranteed beyond Christmas.
Mr Whimpey said SLSQ depended on government funding to survive.
“We need this money more than ever,” he said.
“We understand the state of the economy and that everyone has to take a little pain, but our clubs are already feeling a lot of pain.”
David Hamilton of Brisbane was lucky not to become a statistic when he suffered a heart attack surfing at Noosa in March.
Quick-thinking lifesavers were on the scene in moments and he was rushed to Sunshine Coast University Hospital, where he made a full recovery.
“They (the lifesavers) literally saved my life,” he said.
“They do an amazing job.”
QUEENSLAND’S DEADLIEST BEACHES 2010-2020
* Green Island, Cairns: 7 drownings
* Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast: 6 drownings
* The Spit, Gold Coast: 5 drownings
* Kirra, Gold Coast: 3 drownings
* Fitzroy Island, Cairns: 3 drownings
