Summer under threat as Covid’s wave lets rip

A quiet NSW beach has become the latest casualty of rising Covid-19 case numbers and isolation measures after it was forced to close.

Lifeguards Leroy Bellanto, left, and Jake Murmi keep a close eye on beachgoers during their patrol of Sydney’s Coogee beach. Picture: John Feder

A quiet NSW beach beloved by families and locals has become the latest casualty of rising Covid-19 case numbers and isolation measures after it was forced to close.

Kendalls Beach at Kiama, 120km south of Sydney, closed on Thursday after close-contact rules left the local council unable to staff the area with an appropriate amount of lifeguards.

Although national cabinet on Thursday made changes to close-contact rules, it is feared the beach closure could be the first of many over summer.

Kiama Council took to social media early in the day, asking ­locals to swim at nearby beaches where lifeguards were on patrol.

“(The Kendalls Beach closure) is due to a lack of lifeguards, with some staff in isolation due to Covid close contacts,” it said.

Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive officer Steve Pearce warned the great Australian summer faced an imminent threat from the rapidly spreading virus.

“We are well aware of what ­appears to be an emerging situation, not just within lifesaving, but a lot of businesses because contact isolation rules,” he said.

“We’re coming into a prolonged period of hot weather for up to three to four days and we just want to make sure that we’ve got the required capability for that.

“We can provide a provision of services at all the beaches we ­patrol at but it may be at a reduced capacity … it just depends on what happens over the next couple of days with anyone contracting Covid or being declared a close contact.”

SLS NSW has spent several months ensuring the beaches it patrols were stocked with sufficient protective equipment.

“Leading up to summer we’ve resourced all 129 surf clubs up and down the NSW coast with significantly large supplies of personal protective equipment, and that ranges from face shields and gloves to hand sanitisers to some surgical gowns in some instances where we have to perform CPR in a controlled environment,” Mr Pearce said.

He said NSW clubs were aware that Australians who would normally holiday overseas would flock to the beaches at home.

Wollongong mayor Gordon Bradbery warned his local beaches faced a similar lifeguard shortage.

“It’s an interesting phenomenon that has crept up on us today – that is with the Covid situation – especially for lifeguard and pool services and other recreational ­activities during the summer season,” he said.

“Many of us that experience visitors along the south coast are facing a challenge with people being isolated because of Covid, and more specifically Omicron.

“At this stage we’re managing to struggle through, but it is putting a strain on our services.”

Randwick mayor Dylar Parker, who serves as a volunteer surf lifesaver, said his Sydney council was considering the pressure on lifeguards. Asked if Randwick has faced shortages, he said: “Not at the moment but there’s always a lot of pressure on staffing for our beaches ramping up to summer.”

Randwick council beaches, which include Clovelly, Coogee, Maroubra and several rockpools, have already come close to reaching capacity this summer.

“The beach is a safe environment for Covid but it’s about having the staff and volunteers to make the water safe as well,” Mr Parker said.

“Randwick city beaches are not safe without council lifeguards and volunteers surf lifesavers present. Without those, the community will not be able to enjoy their beaches this summer.”