Beach to be patrolled
THE growing popularity of Tomahawk Beach means it will once again be patrolled by lifeguards this summer.
St Clair Surf Life Saving Club chairman James Coombes said the patrols would resume at the Dunedin beach from the weekend of January 6 and 7.
Full lifeguard services will be available over five weekends in early 2018.
‘‘There’s quite a bit of anecdotal evidence suggesting usage was quite high and there were a number of highprofile rescues there as well, so it’s definitely an area that’s kind of calling out for this service,’’ Mr Coombes said.
The patrols will be a joint initiative between the two local surf lifesaving clubs at St Clair and St Kilda.
It will be shared between the two clubs so it would not ‘‘overly stretch’’ one club.
A previous patrol at Tomahawk ended when the beach was declared offlimits to swimmers due to contamination from a nearby sewage pipe.
The beach was declared clean in 2009 after the new outfall pipe was completed.
OtagoSouthland Life Guard Committee chairman Cameron Burrow said it was a proactive step by the two clubs.
‘‘Obviously in the future there might be a need to look at a surf lifesaving club there or whether we put guards there during the day over that summer period.’’
The weekend patrols were just a step in that direction.
The two clubs willassess at the end of the season whether an increased service is needed.
The weekends when services will be available are January 6 and 7, 13 and 14, 20 and 21, 27 and 28 and February 3 and 4.