Council Minutes - Town of Cambridge

COUNCIL MINUTES
TUESDAY 28 AUGUST 2012
5. Inadequate beach cleaning (rocks & rubble on beach),
6. Boardwalk access and signage,
7. Review of Local Law provisions relating to the beach.
1. Conflict in the use of swimming area at City Beach Groyne
The attendees of the Forum expressed concern that there was no Council funded lifeguard
service on summer season weekends following the commencement of the new service.
One of the key issues was that board riders were still using the north side of the City Beach
groyne after 6am when they should have vacated the area for swimmers. The Town
received numerous complaints about the abuse of the 'No surf appliances after 6am'
restriction at City Beach. This has been the subject of perennial and fairly regular verbal
complaints from early morning swimmers.
Previously, the beach inspector had successfully managed the "No Surf Appliances after
6am" restriction on the north side of the City Beach groyne on weekends when they started
duty at 6am.
However, since the implementation of the new contract, the beaches were no longer
patrolled on weekends, as mentioned above. This resulted in some members of the board
riding and fishing fraternity ignoring the restrictions and taking advantage to the detriment of
swimmers.
To resolve this situation, it is proposed that:-
1) The current Beach Lifeguard Service contract be varied to include a Roving Lifeguard in
the summer season weekends and public holidays to monitor swimming and general
aquatic safety;
2) The restrictions on board rider use of City Beach groyne be amended.
Currently, swimming is permitted from 1 October to 31 March and board riding is
permitted from 1 April to 30 September each year.
It is proposed to amend the permitted swimming months to 1 November to 30 April, and
the permitted board riding period to 1 May to 30 October each year.
2. Beach Lifeguard Services Contract (review of current services)
As a result of ongoing conflict between user groups, it is proposed that the current
contracted service be amended to add:-
"Roving Lifeguard from 6am to 12noon Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays, from 1
November to 31 March".
The key function of this additional service would be to manage aquatic safety zones and
maintain separation of incompatible activities that are likely to cause conflict between
competing user groups (such as the situation between board riders and swimmers
mentioned in 1 above).
Surf Lifesaving WA has quoted $17,881 to undertake this service, as a variation to the
existing Contract.
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