From the Lord Mayor's Office
Getting back into the swim of things
Tomorrow the flags will once again fly at all 17 of Council’s patrolled beaches marking the start of another summer swim season.
It’s a time of year I know many of us look forward to. For me, the raising of the yellow and red flags at all our patrolled beaches is like firing the starting pistol on summer.
When the flags go up, it means the weather is warming up, the days are getting longer, daylight saving is around the corner, and we’ll soon see the vibrant pops of red on the escarpment where the Illawarra Flame Trees are in full bloom. Plus, for those who know me and my passions, know it’s also the start of the basketball season!
However, there is a serious side to the start of the swim season and that is the vital safety messages that underly all the fun.
It’s Council’s professional lifeguards and the city’s dedicated NSW Surf Life Saving volunteers who put those flags out each day of summer. The flags denote where the safest place to swim is, and where you can enter the water and be watched over by the experts in surf conditions.
While it’s a great outdoor “office”, it’s challenging work and I take my hat off to those individuals who take on the responsibility of keeping others’ safe while they enjoy a dip in the pool or ocean. It’s not an easy task and last summer Council’s lifeguards did 489 rescues.
This summer, if you’re at the beach be sure to say hello to the lifeguards and lifesavers and show them the respect they deserve. If they ask you to move or swim in a particular place, it’s for your safety that they’re doing so.
We’re very fortunate to have 17 flagged beaches to choose from in our backyard and it’s a privilege to be able share these beautiful spaces with others who live beyond our Local Government Area.
For those who travel for their time on the sand, there’s a possibility they’re not as familiar with the beaches and the sea conditions.
If you see someone who is taking a risk by swimming outside the flags or at a beach where there aren’t flags, if it’s safe to do so, please speak up. We need to look out for, and after, each other.
Of course, if the conditions at the beach aren’t the best for swimming, another option is to head to one of our many pools, which also open from tomorrow. We’ve got plenty to choose from – nine ocean rock pools, three saltwater pools and five chlorinated pools (Helensburgh Pool continues to be scheduled to reopen following works in January 2026).
My tip? If you’re thinking of a rock pool swim be sure to check out Council’s website where the cleaning schedule is updated regularly.
Lastly, with the warmer weather we’re also likely to see more people fishing from our rock platforms. Please remember to wear a lifejacket – it’s mandatory in Wollongong – and to take all the right safety precautions.
There’s a lot of information on Council’s website about how to rock fish safely and it’s essential fishers follow this advice. Rock fishing is considered one of the most dangerous sports for a reason, and we’ve seen too many tragedies in our city already.
Read more on safe rock fishing.
Have a wonderful swim season everyone and stay safe.
