Editorial: Beach safety vital

The beaches were packed and there were no drownings on the patrolled stretch between the Mount Beach and Papamoa.

In a fitting tribute, beach-goers cheered and clapped as Omanu volunteer surf lifesavers packed away the red and yellow flags for the final time this season on Sunday.

There were no drownings on the patrolled stretch of beach from Mount Maunganui to Papamoa, thanks, no doubt, to the hundreds of lifeguards who watched over the water.

The beaches were packed last weekend as residents and visitors alike flocked to the coast for some respite from soaring temperatures.

Large swells rolled in providing the "magic mix" for trouble in the water: big swells and big crowds.

Preventative actions by lifeguards appears to have kept people from getting into difficulty in the surf.

We all know how treacherous the ocean can be and that conditions can change in an instant.

Lifeguards can be the difference between life and death for a swimmer caught in a rip or struggling in heavy swells.

It would be easy, now that the flags have been taken down, to forget the financial challenges the lifeguard service is facing.

Earlier this year, Surf Life Saving New Zealand launched a bid for ACC funding to counter a cash shortfall.

The funding shortage is so severe volunteer club members in the Bay are having to pay for their own uniforms and first aid training, and fund-raise for crucial items such as trauma packs, defibrillators and even petrol for IRBs (inflatable rescue boats). The organisation gets a $2 million Lottery Grant each year, with $750,000 split among 73 clubs nationwide.

Councils such as Tauranga City give an annual grant to cover the cost of professional lifeguards' wages, Monday to Friday, for about 12 weeks over summer.

All other costs are met by donations, grants and sponsorship, which clubs and the national body has to seek every year.

Safety on our beaches is an essential, not a nice-to-have and should get some support from central government.

Local support is also needed.

The Bay's beaches attract thousands of visitors each year and the lifeguard service helps ensure their visit is a safe one.

This has positive spin-offs for the local economy and that should be recognised through support and sponsorship.