This summer, Manly and three other beaches will have 'an extra set of eyes' patrolling the crowds and looking for danger.
"Whooshka! " That's how Northern Beaches Council's beach safety manager Clinton Rose described the high-risk crowds of 50,000 visitors who descend on Manly Beach by the ferry load on hot summer days like thoseMany visitors are unfamiliar with ocean conditions, swim poorly or not at all, and come to party, drink and swim, said Mr Rose, the council's beach safety officer. At Bondi, the crowds reach 100,000.
Until now, estimating visitor numbers, even how many use the public toilets, has been a "guesstimate", he said. Smart Beaches project manager Tony Blunden said the project would arm professional beach lifeguards with real-time information, and allow them to make decisions backed by data about beach management, patrol hours and staffing.At other beaches, Surf Life Saving Australia plans to trial "smart" drones that count crowds, and identify rips and alert lifeguards if swimmers enter dangerous areas.
Across the world, "crazy busy" beach days are growing in size and frequency, putting increased pressure on surf lifeguards and lifesavers. Mr Daw said the greatest risk on busy beach days was that people who were not familiar with the coast would underestimate the waves, while those consuming alcohol and drugs often overestimated their ability in the water.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
From 'Vote No' to 'Choose Life', skywriting is having a resurgence. And the sky is not the limitNew technology, new political causes and a lack of regulation could usher in new era for skywriting — and space could be the next frontier.
Read more »
Really focusing while exercising could help your brain refresh“We don’t normally think of it as meditation but sport can definitely be meditating.”
Read more »
'Lost decade' of road safety means 500 have died unnecessarilyAt least 500 people have died in 'preventable deaths' on Australian roads because of federal and state governments' failure to cut fatalities by 30 per cent in the decade to 2020, according to a road safety expert and surgeon.
Read more »
Early booking data has revealed Australia’s new hotspot for 2020The new year hasn’t even begun and we already know the places where everyone will be holidaying in 2020.
Read more »
Two men winched to safety in ocean rescue off Perth after boat sinksTwo men are rescued by an emergency services helicopter off Jindalee Beach in Perth's north after their five-metre-long boat sinks.
Read more »
Tourist winched to safety off rocks in daring night-time rescueAn injured tourist has been winched to safety in a daring night-time rescue after being swept onto rocks at a Sydney beach in the early hours of this morning.
Read more »