NEW Emergency Response Beacons (ERBs) will be installed at Austinmer and Woonona beaches.

The ERBs will directly connect callers to Surf Life Saving NSW’s (SLSNSW) State Operations Centre, enabling a rapid deployment of surf lifesaving and other support to emergency situations – either in the water or nearby. This is aimed to drastically reduce response times, particularly in unpatrolled and harder to reach locations.

The new wave of beacons is the first to be fitted with flotation devices, which can be utilised in a rescue attempt. The removal of the device triggers an alarm back to the SLSNSW State Operations Centre and enables video and voice activated communications, ensuring support is dispatched.

Highly visible and easy for bystanders to notice, the beacons are solar powered with 4G and 5G connectivity to help minimise black spots along the NSW coastline.

Chief executive of Surf Life Saving NSW Steve Pearce said the next generation of ERBs with public rescue equipment attached will help people stay safe if they attempt a rescue.

“It’s all about using technology to improve how we respond to coastal incidents and, in the end, save more lives along the coast,” Mr Pearce said.

The expansion of this technology is part of the Minns Labor Government’s record investment in Surf Life Saving NSW in last year’s budget. This will also support the rollout of new and replacement jet skis, to further support SLSNSW volunteers in carrying out more rescues along the state’s coastline.

State MP for Heathcote Maryanne Stuart said the addition of the beacons is crucial in ensuring a timely response to emergencies when these popular beaches are unpatrolled.

“We extend our gratitude to the volunteer lifesaving teams and emergency service workers who respond to incidents when these beacons are activated,” Ms Stuart said.

Minister for the Illawarra and the South Coast Ryan Park said the ERBs will improve response to coastal incidents and help save lives.

“We are lucky enough to have some of New South Wales’s most picturesque beaches in the Illawarra, including Austinmer and Woonona, where these critical new ERBs are located,” Mr Park said.

The findings of the Coastal Water Safety Roundtable, held in March by Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib, helped inform the locations of the beacons, which are typically located in unpatrolled and historically higher-risk locations. The roundtable was held in response to a concerning increase in coastal drownings at unpatrolled locations over recent years.

Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said the installation of new beacons is a critical step towards ensuring the safety of everyone who enjoys the coastline, particularly in unpatrolled or isolated areas where incidents can occur.

“The addition of rescue tubes increases the utility of these units, enabling people to provide urgent assistance in an emergency,” Mr Dib said.

“The NSW Government is committed to supporting the critical work of surf life savers, and the rollout of beacons and jet skis along the NSW coastline is an important part of this.”

Free subscription to The Bulli & Clifton Times

OR DONATE BY CREDIT CARD

Don’t have PayPal? Instead, you can support The Bulli & Clifton Times by leaving a secure $2 debit or credit card donation. Your generous patronage of my work and research, however small it appears to you, will greatly help with my continuing publication costs.