A REQUEST for an urgent report on the number of off-season patrols of the region’s beaches was knocked back by Sutherland Shire councillors.
Labor councillor Phil Blight filed an urgency motion on beach safety at the July 15 meeting of Sutherland Council.
His call was prompted by the drowning of a five-year-old boy, Chayce Kofe, at Pearl Beach on the Central Coast.
Cr Blight called for a report ‘‘as soon as possible’’ detailing the council lifeguard patrols in the region over the off-season (April to September), when volunteer lifesavers are not on patrol.
He wanted the report to include the amount of usage by residents of shire beaches in the off-season, patrol times, number of lifeguards available to patrol beaches and response times to an emergency.
‘‘The use of beaches in the off-season is increasing,’’ Cr Blight said.
‘‘I have no doubt our council lifeguards do a great job, but councillors are ultimately responsible and this matter is not often reported to the council.
‘‘I thought we should gain this information and review what is happening. It is urgent as the off-season finishes in September and we need to check immediately.’’
But his fellow councillors did not support his call.
Mayor Steve Simpson said Cr Blight should put in a councillor’s request for information or file a notice of motion as the best way of getting the details.
But Cr Blight said this would be pointless as the information would not come back until the next council meeting which is scheduled for mid- to late-August and would be too late as the off-season would almost be over and normal patrols would have begun.
Cr Blight said he was amazed that the Liberal councillors rejected the motion when it was about protecting the public.
‘‘Why are Liberal councillor-moved urgency motions always accepted but not Labor motions?’’ Cr Blight asked.
‘‘I looked at the council minutes and there have been 10 urgency motions this year.
‘‘Nine have been moved by Liberal councillors and all have been regarded as urgent and passed.
‘‘My one is the only motion to have been refused to be considered on the meeting agenda, and so refused.’’
Due you think there should be more beach patrols in the off-season?
