Port Kembla beach will be patrolled when the new swimming season starts, even if the club's life savers deem it is too unsafe to do so.
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Surf Life Saving NSW CEO Steve Pearce made this declaration to the Mercury after Port Kembla Surf Life Saving Club president David Erskine hit out at directives to resume beach patrols from September 18.
The club voted not to raise the flags, with the president telling ABC, he was "filthy" volunteer life savers were being asked to patrol in an unsafe COVID climate.
Port Kembla, which has 70 members, had a COVID-19 scare recently with a local newsagency listed as an exposure site.
Read more: Spike in drownings blamed on COVID factors
Mr Pearce said while other Illawarra club's had expressed some concerns, Port Kembla was the only one out of 17 in the region to officially take a stand.
"I don't think [Port Kembla] are reflective of what the rest of the surf life saving clubs are feeling," he said.
"In regards to member safety, we've put in a whole raft of protocols this year to ensure the members' safety. That has included shipping out a significant amount of personal protective equipment that's specific to COVID, for all the clubs leading into the season.
"We've also put out specific life saving protocols and changed arrangements to training and patrolling to ensure that one, it is really complicit with the NSW Health orders, and two it provides the maximum safety for the lifesavers when they are on duty."
Mr Pearce also hit out at suggestions by Mr Erskine that SLSNSW directed 20,000 volunteer surf lifesavers across NSW to resume beach patrols next weekend.
"You can't direct a volunteer to do anything, people have just got to volunteer of their own goodwill," he said.
"Obviously it is people's personal choice and if they do feel unsafe to patrol, well we understand that and they don't have to patrol.
"However we have a responsibility to provide aquatic rescue services right across the state and in the Illawarra particularly with the spate of drownings that have occurred in the last 12 months.
"We are committed to make sure that we will have patrols on all our patrolled locations, including Port Kembla."
Mr Pearce said he didn't want a repeat of last summer's "horrid year", which saw 45 coastal drownings.
"Not one drowning occurred between the red and yellow flags. All the drownings occurred in unpatrolled locations where there were no lifesavers on duty," he said.
"Because we've been cooped up people haven't been able to maintain their fitness.
"When they do get out they will be in party mode, and they will be looking for any location where they can get out in the water.
"We understand that and need to be ready. Unless we have red and yellow flags up on the beaches to show where the safe locations are, there is a high risk that people will drown this summer.
"Last summer was a horrid year for coastal drownings.
"This summer again is going to be even more challenging.
"I just want to thank all the volunteer lifesavers in the Illawarra. They've done a huge job from season to season, and this season will be no different.
"We're really relying on everyone to be there this summer to look after their communities."
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