Bellarine Times
Tuesday 27 July 2010
VOL 3. No 30
www.bellarinetimes.com.au
FREE WEEKLY
FLAGS FOR PORT? Community gains support over introduction of lifeguards for Portarlington
BY ALISON MARTIN ‘SWIM between the flags’ is widely promoted as the safest option when using Victoria’s beaches, but the fact is it’s not an option on the northern Bellarine. A number of Port Phillip beaches – around Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula – with equal numbers of users to Portarlington, have Life Saving Victoria lifeguards patrolling over peak summer periods. However, despite the increasing number of visitors converging on northern Bellarine beaches, including Portarlington, Indented Head and St Leonards, there are no lifeguards and no flags. The need for summer patrols – particularly at the busy Portarlington beach – which attracts a mix of swimmers, boat users and commercial and recreational fishermen, has been raised by community members. While no action has been initiated, the introduction of lifeguards at Portarlington has the support of all local authorities “if warranted” and has been welcomed by Point Lonsdale Surf Life Saving Club secretary, Matthew Ponsford, “We would support any extra life saving services on the Bellarine as the population increases,” he said. “We have life guards at Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale seven days a week from Boxing Day to the Australia Day weekend, with about 200 active (volunteer) lifesavers. But we don’t have the capacity to put lifesavers at other beaches. “Portarlington has a lot of boating activity and swimmers and just because it’s a bay beach doesn’t mean it doesn’t warrant a life saving service “Life Saving Victoria only started patrols at Raffs Beach a few years ago, because there were too many people at Ocean Grove Beach and they started using Raffs so there was a need. “As time goes on and more people come to the Bellarine you have to re-evaluate these things and it’s probably time to look at Portarlington.” City of Greater Geelong, Bellarine Bayside and Life Saving Victoria representatives all indicated they would support a lifeguard service “if warranted”, however, the need had not been identified by authorities at this stage. Bellarine Bayside chief executive, Tim Page-Walker, said while he was not aware of any regularity with water-based incidents over the past eight years, he was sure everyone would agree that water-based activities did present risks. He said he could not determine if summer beach users had increased in recent years but the Bellarine Bayside Holiday Park at Portarlington accommodated between 5,000 and 6,000 people per night between Boxing Day and Australia Day. City of Greater Geelong manager sport and recreation, Paul Jane, said Life Saving Victoria determined the beaches in the region that required lifeguards. “At this stage Life Saving Victoria has not identified Portarlington as a beach that needs to be patrolled by lifeguards, but we will we continue to work with them,” he said. Life Saving Victoria general manager, Paula Butler, agreed LSV would work with CoGG to determine the needs of northern Bellarine beaches. Send your views on lifeguard services at Portarlington and other northern Bellarine beaches to Letters to the Editor at editor@ bellarinetimes.com.au
Surf Forecast
Geelong forward James Podsiadly and former star Billy Brownless have thrown their support behind the Bike Safe ‘share the road’ initiative. The Geelong and Bellarine local community campaign aims to promote better behaviour by cyclists and motorists, encouraging everyone to obey the road rules and to show courtesy and respect.
WED 1-2ft small, NE 13° THU 1-2ft small, N/NW 13° FRI 1-2ft small NW 16° SAT 1-2ft small W/NW 13°
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