Acting Sports Minister Geoff Lee said surf lifesavers provided a vital service that ranged from assisting community members during crisis times to keeping people safe in the water, and he added:
“It’s so important we keep their facilities modern and versatile so that they can continue to keep our beaches safe.”
As part of the programme, the Warriewood club received $46,000 to upgrade its patrol and first aid room.
Lee said facilities and equipment need to be at their best to allow dedicated surf lifesavers to carry out their work to the best of their abilities, especially during the summer season, when beach crowds are at their peak.
Flyer printing campaigns have often stressed the importance of adhering to local lifesaving instructions, such as swimming between the flags erected by lifesavers.
Surf Life Saving President George Shales said it was a top priority to ensure facilities for rescues across the state remained secure, accessible and safe. In total, New South Wales hosts 129 clubs, and in the past year, between them, 3,800 rescues were performed, 7,000 treatments involving first aid were executed and 197,000 preventative actions carried out.
Surf Club Facility programme grants available for eligible clubs range from $30,000 to $350,000.