Lifesavers flag tourist beach danger

30.04.2010

The Australian Lifeguard Service says its end-of-season report shows that more attention should be given to one of the main tourist beaches on the New South Wales far south coast

The report states that the service rescued 358 people at Bega Valley beaches during the summer season in December and January, with more than half at Merimbula's Bar Beach.

The Bega Valley Shire Council has voted to consider the provision of life saving services at the beach in its contract for next summer, but councillors say the figures are misleading and the beach is safe.

But the Service's State Manager, Stephen Leahy, says the report is accurate, and the beach is a well-known danger spot.

"The lifeguards at Bar Beach have performed exceptionally well this year," he said.

"They were particularly selected and particularly briefed that this was a beach where the community had concerns about the safety of that beach.

"They were particularly required to pay close attention to the welfare of the community that visited."

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