The City of Coffs Harbour will retain its lifeguard service as an in-house operation following a review prompted by an unsolicited 2025 proposal from the Australian Lifeguard Service (ALS), a subsidiary of Surf Life Saving NSW.
Council said the review considered potential service improvements and long-term delivery models before determining the service would remain council-run, with a focus on ongoing improvement.
“Community interest in the City Lifeguard Service and potential models for delivery is understandable given the service’s long history and that it rates highly in community satisfaction surveys,” General Manager Murray Wood said.
“The ALS submitted a strong proposal and it was important for the City to undertake its due diligence to review the proposal with considerations for improved services for the community. In an ever changing world, it is important the City continues to review all of its services over time to ensure we deliver efficient and relevant services to the community.”
The review, initiated following a council resolution in August last year, included consultation with staff and stakeholders, including volunteer surf lifesaving clubs, board rider clubs, surf schools and education providers.
“Importantly, the review identified a number of learnings and opportunities for improvements for the City Lifeguard Service going forward,” City Planning and Communities Director Ian Fitzgibbon said.
“There is also opportunity to further strengthen our already strong relationship with our four local surf lifesaving clubs, Surf Lifesaving NSW and other key stakeholders. And we thank the Australian Lifeguard Service for their interest.”
Wood said the council and community held the service in high regard.
“We value their dedication and professionalism. The City remains committed to maintaining a high quality, public safety focused lifeguard service,” he said.
The service patrols seven beaches during summer, including Park Beach — the city’s main surf beach — which is patrolled year-round.
More information on patrols is available on the City of Coffs Harbour website.
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