New funding will seek to provide improved shark surveillance and improve safety for beach-goers in Kiama.
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On Monday, Member for Kiama Gareth Ward joined with Kiama Mayor Mark Honey to inspect the new junior observation tower at Surf Beach, Kiama after securing $31,900 funding for Kiama council under the state government’s Observation Tower Grants Program.
“The Observation Tower Grants Program increased from $30,000 to $200,000 this year as part of the Shark Management Bather Protection Program and I am very pleased that Kiama Municipal Council has benefited from this $31,900 funding boost,” Mr Ward said.
“These projects are aimed at protecting beach-goers from Pambula to Ballina along the NSW coast and are a popular program to help improve safety for beach-goers.”
Mr Ward said observation towers on beaches or beach headlands provide improved shark surveillance and improve safety for beach-goers.
“The towers provide a clearer line of vision for surf lifesavers and lifeguards to spot sharks, and are also useful for spotting people in distress and monitoring beach conditions,” he said.
“Kiama council already do amazing work in this area of beach safety and I am pleased that this funding will further enhance the protection they can offer visitors to our beautiful beaches.”
Kiama Mayor Mark Honey also welcomed the $31,900 funding for the installation of the observation tower.
“This summer our lifeguards were busier than ever with an estimated 334,384 people using our seven patrolled beaches between mid-December and the end of January,” he said.
“That’s a 20 per cent jump in visitor numbers from last summer.
“By providing them a new tower we are making their job easier, which in turn makes everyone enjoying our beaches that much safer as well.”
The tower is currently located at Surf Beach but will be deployed to Bombo Beach next summer.