YANCHEP Lagoon has a new surf patrol tower to keep beachgoers safer, but not everyone is happy about it.
Yanchep Surf Life Saving Club welcomed the arrival of the observation tower this month Oct, which will help volunteers and life guards keep watch over families swimming in the lagoon.
President Billy Prinsloo said the tower would improve safety at the beach, giving patrol members a better view of people in the water.
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Surf Life Saving WA lifesaving coordinator Nick Pavy said the installation, due to finish this week ahead of the first patrol on November 3, was part of a roll-out of 10 towers across WA funded by Lotterywest.
“Towers have been installed across the State to improve surveillance at each selected beach,” he said.
“We strongly encourage people to swim between the flags but our lifesavers regularly need to rely on the mantra of ‘if we can’t see you, we can’t save you’.
“These towers provide elevation above the beachgoers, umbrellas, tents, etc that can often be seen on the beach and obscure vision of the water.”
Mr Prinsloo said the club previously used a mobile observation structure, which they towed onto the beach during patrols using a buggy and that posed collision risks with beachgoers.
“Yanchep Lagoon will benefit from the tower to not only improve surveillance at a location that can be exposed to strong currents but also reduce the mobilisation or demobilisation of infrastructure on and off the beach every patrol,” Mr Pavy said.
