The summer surf season officially starts this weekend, with lifeguards preparing to begin patrols along the Illawarra coast.
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In Wollongong, council lifeguards will patrol 17 beaches from Stanwell Park to Windang, six days a week.
Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery said he expected more than one million people to visit the city's beaches through summer.
"We have 42 kilometres of coastline in our city ... and the oldest lifeguard service in NSW," he said, noting professional life gurard had patrolled in Wollongong since 1912.
"Beach-goers are reminded to swim at patrolled beaches and all swimmers are strongly advised to heed all surf warnings."
He reminded people to always swim between the flags.
Shellharbour surf patrols also start this weekend at Warilla Central Beach and Shellharbour North Beach. Other Shellharbour beaches are not patrolled until the Christmas school holidays.
In Kiama, council lifeguards will begin their patrol season at Surf Beach on Monday.
They will be on station from 9.30am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday, while volunteer life savers will patrol Surf Beach, Jones Beach and Werri Beach on weekends and public holidays between October and April.