As we are about to hop into the April School Holidays Central Coast Council wants to remind the community and visitors of the importance of beach safety and swimming between the flags across the Central Coast.

A recent report from Surf Life Saving Australia has identified some very sobering statistics of coastal drownings during the 2022/23 summer season. The findings identified that the drowning risk was 1.2x greater on public holidays, 100% of deaths occurred at an unpatrolled location, and that 59% of these deaths occurred just 5km from a patrolled beach. 

Surf Life Saving Central Coast and Central Coast Council are urging the community to do the extra 5 to survive this April School Holidays:

1. Take the time and drive 5 more minutes to a patrolled beach and swim in between the flags
2. Never swim alone
3. Observe conditions for at least 5 minutes before going into the water
4. Always take some sort of floatation device
5. If in doubt – Don’t go out

Council Director Community and Recreation Services, Melanie Smith says the Central Coast has an array of beautiful beaches to visit that are accessible and patrolled this holiday period.

“There are 15 Central Coast beach locations, plus Grant McBride Baths at The Entrance, which are patrolled every day between 9am to 5pm by either Council’s Beach Safety team or Surf Life Saving Clubs, up until the end of the beach season ending 25 April,” Ms Smith said. 

“The statistics from the recent Surf Life Saving report are alarming and I strongly recommend that our residents and visitors drive the extra 5 minutes to swim at a patrolled beach between the red and yellow flags.

“We hope that by sharing this information and tips on ways to avoid these tragic situations that everyone can have an enjoyable and safe time at the beach these holidays.”

To find your nearest patrolled beach location, visit centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/Beaches

Over these holidays the weather can also be unpredictable, please avoid swimming and recreational water activities during and after heavy rain for at least 24 hours at ocean beaches. 

For daily beach pollution forecasts for the Central Coast, go to the Beachwatch webpage: https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/beachapp/CentralcoastBulletin.aspx