The 2024-25 Central Coast beach patrol season officially concluded on Sunday 27 April, following a busy seven months that saw a significant rise in beach visitation and a strong safety response from Central Coast Council lifeguards and Surf Life Saving Central Coast (SLSCC) volunteers.

Throughout the season, Council lifeguards provided weekday patrols at 15 beaches and The Grant McBride Baths, while SLSCC volunteers covered weekends and public holidays. Patrolled beaches recorded over 2.3 million mid-week visits – a 24 per cent increase on the previous year – along with 198,400 visits to the Baths.

The team responded to the rise in visitation while maintaining a strong focus on safety. Council lifeguards carried out more than 56,000 preventative actions, treated over 15,000 first aid incidents and completed nearly 1,000 rescues.

Tragically, five lives were lost across Central Coast beaches and waterways this season. With drowning incidents rising nationally, these events are a powerful reminder that water safety is a shared responsibility.

Swimming between the flags, actively supervising children and wearing a life jacket when rock fishing, boating or jet skiing are simple steps that can help save lives.

Council acknowledges the significant contribution of both professional lifeguards and volunteer lifesavers in keeping the community safe throughout the season. Their commitment and efforts continue to make a real difference for the millions of people who visit the region’s coastline each year.

As the region heads into the cooler months, the importance of water safety remains. The Grant McBride Baths remain open during winter and are patrolled daily by Council lifeguards from 8am to 1pm, seven days a week.

Key water safety tips to remember:

• Never swim alone.
• Avoid swimming for at least 24 hours after heavy rainfall to reduce exposure to stormwater pollution.
• When rock fishing, boating or jet skiing, wear a life jacket, check the conditions, tell someone your plans and carry a phone.

Recruitment for the 2025-26 lifeguard season opens in early August, with patrols resuming from Saturday 27 September for SLSCC and Monday 29 September for Council lifeguards.

For more information and beach safety tips, visit Beach Safety.