Surf lifesavers booted from the Gold Coast Airport warm to free sign offering

ADVERTISING billboards promoting beach safety messages are expected to be in place at the Gold Coast Airport before the Commonwealth Games in April.

ADVERTISING billboards promoting beach safety messages are expected to be in place at the Gold Coast Airport before the Commonwealth Games in April.

A Gold Coast Bulletin report on Saturday revealed that, for the first time in decades, lifesavers were no longer giving out flyers promoting the “swim between the flags’’ message to passengers.

Gold Coast Airport boss Marion Charlton claimed lifesaving staff had been “generally disinterested” in their job and offered billboards at the airport free of charge to the lifesavers.

A volunteer surf lifesaver handing out surf safety tips to tourists at Gold Coast Airport.

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After being slow to adopt the billboard idea, acting Surf Life Saving Queensland CEO Craig Williams yesterday said the signage for the boards had been designed and was likely to be installed before April.

Mr Williams said SLSQ was grateful for the free advertising space but he face-to-face contact with tourists was the best way to get safety messages across to prevent drowning deaths.

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“We still strongly believe in the face-to-face contact lifesavers can make with incoming passengers at the Gold Coast Airport,” Mr Williams said.

“It gives visitors and tourists who may never have come across the surf safety message before a chance to physically see a lifesaver and gain an understanding of what they do.

Lara Ramage was once the 'face of Surf Life Saving Queensland', she also greeted tourists at Coolangatta airport with water safety leaflets. Photo: Geoff McLachlan

“It also creates an opportunity to engage in conversation to further build on the surf safety information and awareness.”

He said the brochure handed to visitors was also helpful.

“The Beach Safety brochure is a tangible asset that visitors can take with them,” Mr Williams said.

A red and yellow flag at a Gold Coast beach. Picture: Brendan Radke.

“They can consume the information in their own time after they leave, rather than just reading a billboard that may also blend into the background as advertising,” he said.

“However, we respect and agree on consistent messaging to reach as many people as possible and we are grateful for the opportunity,” he said.

Ms Charlton said it was unlikely surf lifesavers would be allowed back into the airport.

“In terms of handing out an advertising brochure probably not, unless they could be there for every operational hour of the day, which clearly they can’t. It’s just not the way forward at Gold Coast Airport,” she told the ABC.

North Kirra beach. Photo: Kevin Bull