Council reviews life saving assets on Crown Lands

EUROBODALLA Shire Council has confirmed it is working as one stakeholder among other interested parties to inform the NSW Department of Primary Industries’ Crown Land Division on its approach to surf club use on crown reserves.

This follows rumours that the council was looking at taking over the management of the clubs, including at Narooma.

The Eurobodalla Ratepayers Association last week issued a shrill statement saying council was “sucking the life out of life saving.”

“Local lifesaving clubs…should continue to manage these assets and facilities which were built and paid for by the community over many years,” ERA chairman Geoff Plews said.

But a council spokesperson said council understands that the Crown Land Division was preparing guidelines for surf club leases on Crown Lands and welcomes the division’s interest in the community's use of surf clubs.

“Through this process, council continues to represent the community’s interests to the NSW Government Department of Primary Industries,” the spokesperson said.

“Council looks forward to receiving the Crown Land Division’s Guidelines for Surf Leases on Crown Lands and an opportunity to negotiate with the other key stakeholders on how surf clubs use crown reserves in the Eurobodalla Shire.”

Far South Coast lifesaving director Andrew Edmunds said only individual clubs had been contacted at this point and not the branch.

Mr Edmunds said the surf life saving organisation did wish to extend its congratulations to the council for implementing new beach safety signage at every beach in the shire.

Council installed 174 signs throughout the Eurobodalla that have extensive details, including beach hazards.

The council was recently recognised at the State-wide Mutual Risk Management Conference receiving a commendation for beach signage.

“The Eurobodalla has the largest number of beaches in the state per council region, a lot of which are remote and challenging for rescuers to access,” Mr Edmunds said.