Lifeguards on duty from tomorrow

Surf lifeguards on the Gisborne beaches will set the flags out for the first time in their normal full weekend summer patrol regimes from tomorrow and encourage the public to swim between the flags. They are preparing for a busy summer, particularly during the Rhythm and Vines period as this Wainui shot from last summer shows.Herald file pictures

Full surf lifeguard volunteer weekend patrols begin at Waikanae, Midway and Wainui beaches this weekend.

Lifeguards will be on duty each weekend into mid-March.

Surf lifesaving clubs have already been patrolling during their nippers gatherings on  Sunday mornings for several weeks.

The patrol season starts in full tomorrow.

Dawson Building Midway will patrol from 1pm to 5pm on Saturdays and 9am to 5pm on Sundays.

Kaiaponi Farms Waikanae lifeguards will patrol from 1pm to 6pm on Saturdays and 10am to 6pm on Sundays.

Riversun Wainui will patrol from 1pm to 5pm on Saturdays, and 10am to  5pm on Sundays.

Gisborne District Council indicated on Wednesday that the beach area in front of  the Waikanae and Midway clubs would be cleared of driftwood debris by the weekend.

“It will be great to get the beach back,” Waikanae club manager Clara Wilson said.

That end of the city beachfront was worst affected by the influx of debris carried down the city rivers during the weekend storm.

Health warnings about swimming in the rivers in the wake of raw sewage discharges during the storm should be lifted on Saturday morning.