Stretched lifesavers need a swell in funding
Bosses credit longer hours for nil summer death toll but say service can’t go on at that level
Surf lifesaving bosses are crediting extended patrol hours with a zero drowning toll at beaches they covered over summer.
But funding for the vital service continues to be short.
An extra $730,000 is needed for the next financial year to keep the 17 surf lifesaving clubs operating at the same level as last summer, Surf Life Saving Northern Region chief executive Matt Williams said.
SLSNR lifeguards performed 350 rescues and 601 assists during their 2017-18 season, from Labour Weekend to Easter Weekend. That was up from 752 rescues and assists last summer.
There were no drownings at the 22 beaches they covered, from Raglan north on the west coast around North Cape and south to the Auckland City beaches, during patrolled hours.
“That’s an absolutely huge feat,” Williams said.
He credits extended patrol hours at high-risk beaches from the standard 10am-6pm time to as early as 9am and late as 8pm.
The northern region had 2500 volunteer lifeguards at beaches over summer.
“In the past, that time in the early evening when the patrols have ceased and the flags are down was often when people got into difficulties and couldn’t be rescued in time to avoid a tragedy.
“I don’t think it’s pure coincidence that, this year, drownings during patrolled hours were nil,” Williams said.
Patrols also continued at some beaches for weeks after the traditional end of season.
That meant lifeguards, aged from
14 to 75, giving more of their time —
61,244 hours, up from 60,832 last year.
“I’m full of admiration for their efforts — at times they were out on their feet,” Williams said.
“They’ve persevered through a lot of challenges. Some clubs have had funding reduced, all have had busy seasons and the continued good weather led some clubs to continue patrols well past the traditional end of season date.”
The organisation had approached regional councils and gaming and grants funders for extra financial assistance to reach their $5.5 million operating budget.
“We won’t be able to deliver to the necessary level of service if we don’t have that funding,” Williams said.
He said an extra $12m per annum was needed for capital expenditure — on things like repairing buildings, many of which were 60 years old — and investment in technology such as drones and digital capability for its emergency radio network.
SNSLR has put a proposal to the Government for financial support.
Surf lifesaving was seen by many as a charity rather than the essential emergency service it was, Williams said. “We need to stop being funded as a nicety and more as a necessity.”