Wollongong City Council has defended its decision not to publicly distribute a report assessing risk levels at 10 Wollongong beaches, claiming the information constituted "professional advice" that did not need public input.
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Property and recreation manager Peter Coyte said the council received hundreds of similar reports and documents each year giving advice on "management issues", which were not released.
"We absorb that professional advice, decide on a course of action and then go to the community during implementation stage," Mr Coyte said.
"In this case, the advice we received as part of the [Coastal Public Safety Risk Assessment] report is something to help us better manage our beaches."
Mr Coyte's comments come on the back of public criticism from Illawarra surf lifesaver John Wren, who this week accused the council of keeping the report "under lock and key" at Surf Life Saving Illawarra headquarters.
However Mr Coyte said senior SLS staff had already been briefed on the report, club members would have a briefing next week (an earlier briefing for clubs had to be cancelled due to illness of a council manager) and the document was publicly available to anyone who wanted it.
"Surf Life Saving members can view it in full at the SLSI headquarters, and they or any other member of the public can request it through the council," Mr Coyte said.
