UPDATE TUESDAY FEBRUARY 10:
THERE has been mixed reactions to Rockdale Council plans to prohibit swimming at a dangerous section of beach at Dolls Point where a young boy drowned in 2013.
Councillor Bill Saravinovski (Labor) successfully moved the motion at the February 4 council meeting to urgently work towards prohibiting swimming at the area of beach from Georges River Sailing Club to the jetty.
New signs will be installed urging people to swim in netted areas only.
Cr Saravinovski called on the state government to put in place an action plan to rectify problems with shifting sands.
Ayman Ksebe, 5, drowned at the beach in December 2013. It was the same spot where a girl, 8, was pulled unconscious from the water last month.
The section is deceptively dangerous with shifting sands, a big drop-off and rips.
Carina El Saouda, who organised an online petition to improve safety at the beach after Ayman’s death, said the decision was a victory.
‘‘I think it’s fantastic. There really was no other choice,’’ she said.
‘‘I’m very happy and I’ve spoken to Ayman’s mother and she’s very happy as well.
‘‘This is something that should have been done earlier.
‘‘It could have prevented the incidents that have happened down there.’’
But others believe closing the beach will not persuade people to stop swimming there.
Writing on the Leader Facebook page, Maria Nikolaidis Anthony said: ‘‘All beaches and pools are dangerous.
‘‘Parents must supervise children and if you cannot swim don’t go past your waist.
‘‘People drown in rivers, beaches, pools and in their own bath tubs.
‘‘Put signs up but you cannot close off a beach.’’
The move comes after the council received legal advice recommending signage as the preferred option.
At the council meeting, general manager Meredith Wallace said the legal advice outlined two options; prohibiting swimming at the beach and adding signage advising of the extreme hazards of swimming there.
Prohibiting swimming at the beach would be possible under the Local Government Act but would require the council to enforce compliance.
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 2:
Rockdale Council will prohibit swimming at a dangerous section of beach at Dolls Point.
Cr Bill Saravinovski (Labor) moved the motion, which was passed, at the council meeting last night to ‘‘urgently work’’ towards prohibiting swimming at the beach from Georges River Sailing Club to the jetty.
New signs urging people to swim in netted areas will be installed.
Cr Saravinovski wants the state government to act in rectifying problems with shifting sands, one of the main reasons that the beach is considered dangerous.
Legal advice to the council had recommended signs as the preferred option.
General manager Meredith Wallace said at the council meeting that legal advice had outlined two options: prohibiting swimming at the beach and adding signs about the extreme hazards of swimming there.
Prohibiting would be possible under the Local Government Act but it would require the council to enforce compliance.
The section of beach — deceptively dangerous with shifting sands, a big drop-off and rips —is where Ayman Ksebe, 5, drowned 12 months ago and where a girl, 8, was pulled unconscious from the water last month.
See more in the Leader on Tuesday.
Do you support a prohibition of swimming at Dolls Point?
