Lifeguards lengthen beach patrols

Peter Gardiner | 1st December 2009

As Noosa’s Main Beach was being groomed this week to look its best for the fast-approaching school holidays, Sunshine Coast council lifeguard services manager Scott Braby was more concerned about what lies beneath its family-friendly image.

A long-time Noosa local, Scott said while Noosa did deserve its user-friendly reputation compared to the open beaches, its often calm appearance could appear deceptive.

Scott said when the conditions roughed up Noosa was just as susceptible as the open beaches to flash rips.

“And then you just have the sheer volume of people who come to the beach that creates its own demands,” Scott said.

All this is by way of geeing up his local lifeguards for what is looking to be a bumper Christmas holiday period.

During the week there are up to six lifeguards in the towers or on jet-ski patrol around to noted unpatrolled trouble spots.

Alexandria Bay is one of the Coast’s noted black spots because it is isolated and the inviting waters are a breeding ground for rips, but the beach has two emergency radio beacons as emergency alerts.

Over the school holidays the patrol hours will be extended from 7am to 6pm. Patrolled beaches include Noosa Main Beach, Noosa West, Sunshine, Sunrise and North Peregian.