Gold Coast beach patrols to return after council determine risks

Council will this morning announce when lifeguards will return to Gold Coast beaches.

COUNCIL will this morning will announce when lifeguards will return to Gold Coast beaches.

Mayor Tom Tate will hold a media conference at 10.30 where he will address service delivery changes which impact on libraries, waste and recycling centres, beach flags and aquatic centres.

Tatiana Reyes, 24, from Surfers Paradise is happy the beaches being open to swimmers again. Picture: Nigel Hallett.

He will also confirm the date for the show day holiday.

The Bulletin has approached city hall about what would occur with patrols.

“Safety is our number one priority and due to the large volume of people that visit Gold Coast beaches every day we are carefully considering the impact the flags will have on people gathering in one area and the risk that poses,” a city spokesperson said.

People on the beach at Broadbeach on the Gold Coast. Photograph: Jason O'Brien.

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“We are working through these issues and hope to announce a date very soon.”

Volunteer surf lifesavers will be back on the beaches tomorrow, raising the red and yellow flags for the first time since March 28.

SLSQ members across the State had been restricted to surveillance patrols.

Volunteer lifesaver patrols will return to the beaches tomorrow. Picture: Nigel Hallett.

The introduction of Stage Two easing of restrictions and talks with councils resulted in the decision to return the flags to patrolled beaches.

Swimmers will be asked to adhere to physical distancing of 1.5 metres, to stay at home if sick and not gather in groups of more than 20.