Council Minutes - Town of Cambridge

COUNCIL MINUTES
TUESDAY 28 AUGUST 2012
DV12.102 REVIEW OF BEACH LIFEGUARD SERVICE AND OUTCOME OF BEACH
USER FORUM
PURPOSE OF REPORT:
To review the Lifeguard Service and report on the outcome of the Beach User Forum held
on 6 June 2012.
BACKGROUND:
At its meeting on 22 November 2011, the Council awarded the Beach Lifeguard Services
Contract to Surf Lifesaving WA. At that time, the Council decided that:
"A report be submitted to Council in April 2012 to further review the service provision and to
determine the future level of service and an appropriate budget allocation for the 2012/2013
financial year."
At its meeting on 21 February 2012, the Council decided to establish a Beach User Forum
after concerns were raised about conflict between user groups throughout the previous
summer. The Council decided that:
"An annual Beach User Forum be hosted by the Council at the end of each summer to assist
the Town in the formulation of operational practices and policy to manage beach and aquatic
use at Floreat and City Beaches."
DETAILS:
To assist the Council in defining issues and arriving at solutions regarding the beach
lifeguard service and the beach environment in general, consultation with interested
community groups was undertaken on 6 June 2012
Community group representatives who attended the Beach User Forum included:-
• Surf Life Saving Western Australia;
• Floreat Surf Lifesaving Club;
• City Beach Surf Riders Club;
• WA Kite Surfing Association;
• Individual residents;
• Swimmers;
• Fishermen;
• Board riders;
The Town was represented by two Coast ward councillors and four Administration officers.
Key issues raised by the community and the Administration during the Forum were:-
1. Conflict in the use of swimming area at City Beach groyne,
2. Beach lifeguard service contract (review of current services),
3. Beach signage (conflicting, or out-of-date),
4. Conflict between fishermen and aquatic users at both groynes,
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