Council gets strong advice not to reintroduce a property minding service at Cronulla beaches

At the request of councillors, staff sought proposals from third party providers for a beach locker solution at various beaches.

The feedback was so discouraging the council decided to take no further action apart from seeking the views of surf clubs.

"Third party locker providers have advised council that despite hundreds of trials across Australian beaches, beachside lockers have proven to be very unpopular due to low usage rates, vandalism and accelerated wear and tear in coastal environments, the staff report said.

"A beach property minding service would not meet COVID-19 safe practices, as staff would be handling possessions from visitors to Cronulla beaches."

The report said feedback from community consultation favoured the provision of lockers, but with conditions, including CCTV monitoring, that they have Smart technology features, cost only $2 or be free, that a council staff member be onsite to assist with issues and that they be close to change rooms.

From 2005 to 2009, a property minding service was located under the lifeguard tower at North Cronulla before a trial of lockers from December 2010 to January 2012 through a private operator.

The service was discontinued because the lockers were not well patronised, the electronic locking mechanisms failed due to the corrosive environment and the lockers became unsightly due to weathering.