Surf Life Saving Northern Beaches Swimming Season
Beach Safety Schedule

Is a Lifegaurd on Duty? What do the new Flags Mean?

Council Lifeguards & Surf Lifesaving Club Patrols Schedule for Freshwater, South Curl Curl, North Curl Curl, Dee Why, Long Reef, Collaroy and North Narrabeen 2011-2012 Swimming Season

Surf Life Saving 7 Days - Season Runs September 24, 2011 through April 25, 2012

Two of Warringah Council's nine beaches have opened three weeks before the official start of the beach season. Warringah Council lifeguards will patrol Dee Why and Freshwater Beaches seven days a week from now until Sunday 27 May next year, one month after the official end to beach season.
 
"Last year's extension of the beach season at Dee Why and Freshwater Beaches was so popular with locals and visitors alike, we are extending the season again this year," said Warringah Mayor Michael Regan.

New Northern Beaches Surf Life Saving Beach Safety Flags and Signage

What do signs mean? Is it safe to swim? Is there a lifegaurd on duty?

This season Warringah Council is introducing new beach safety flags and signage, following the change to the Australian Standard.

• Red and yellow flags indicate the patrolled swimming area will now include a red and yellow 'feather' along the pole
• A black and white quartered flag will replace the blue flag to indicate the surf craft prohibited areas.

"These new flags have been designed to increase visibility of the patrolled swimming area and the surf craft prohibited areas from the water.

"Beachgoers are advised to only swim or surf at beaches patrolled by lifeguards or lifesavers and to swim between the red and yellow flags at all times,” said Mayor Regan.

The normal swimming season patrols will start on Saturday September 24 and continue until Wednesday April 25 next year. During this period Freshwater, South Curl Curl, North Curl Curl, Dee Why, Long Reef, Collaroy and North Narrabeen will be patrolled from Monday to Friday by Council Lifeguards and on weekends and public holidays in a joint service with local Surf Lifesaving Club patrols.

South Narrabeen and Narrabeen will be patrolled on weekends and public holidays except for in the Christmas School holiday period when they will be patrolled seven days a week.

2010-11 Beach Stats

• More than 2.4 million people visited Warringah's nine beaches
• Over 650,000 visited Dee Why Beach Over 490,000 visited Freshwater Beach
• Warringah lifeguards performed 825 rescues and 153,763 preventative actions

Sydney, Northern Beaches Surf Photography Images Courtesy of saltmotion Surf and Ocean Photography