THE president of South Coast Surf Lifesaving is calling on Shoalhaven City Council to use some of the profit from its caravan park at Huskisson to fund a lifeguard service.
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Steve Jones has wanted a lifeguard service in Jervis Bay for many years.
He said council uses the beaches of Jervis Bay to draw people to the region through marketing and it was time an appropriate level of safety was provided.
“I am of the firm belief the high numbers of tourists and locals at beaches around Huskisson and Jervis Bay over the Christmas holiday period warrant a lifeguard service,” Mr Jones said.
Over two days during the Christmas holiday he surveyed the beach near Moona Moona Creek.
He counted 400 people in the water, several hundred on the beach on a Saturday and more than 1000 using the beach and water on Sunday.
“The number of visitors to the beaches in Jervis Bay over the Christmas holiday continues to grow and council owns two caravan parks at Huskisson.
“I know a few years ago the net income from the Holiday Haven caravan parks at Huskisson was more than $3 million.
“Those facilities are on Crown Land and the income derived from the parks is to go back into their upkeep and into Crown reserves.
“I’m suggesting funds from that income could be used to support a lifeguard service there,” he said.
However, a statement from Crown Lands indicated funds from the caravan parks would not be used specifically for a surf lifesaving service at Huskisson.
“Income from the Crown caravan parks operated by Shoalhaven City Council contributes to the upkeep and improvement of public reserves in the Shoalhaven.
“Crown Lands assists surf lifesaving by providing sites for volunteer surf clubs at minimum rent.
“Other agencies of the NSW government provide funding for surf lifesaving.”
Aquatics manager Kevin Norwood said council would soon receive a briefing on the issue.
“That will be an opportunity for council to review what lifeguard services we provide and make a determination as to whether council wants to extend that service,” he said.