AusLeisure

Lake Macquarie City Council will develop a world-first smart beaches platform to make beaches safer, reduce the risk of coastal drownings and improve public amenities.

The Australian Government has awarded Council a $910,000 grant to implement the new system, in conjunction with Northern Beaches Council and University of Technology Sydney,

Central to the concept is the collection and real-time transmission of information about beach conditions, public amenities and services.

The information will be made available to the community via smartphone apps and interactive digital displays at the pilot beaches, one in each of the Lake Macquarie and Northern Beaches Local Government Areas.

Sensors installed along the beach will monitor wave and swell movement, while others will monitor beach activity to gauge when beaches are busiest.

Mayor of Lake Macquarie, Councillor Kay Fraser, said the ultimate aim was to reduce coastal drownings and increase safety awareness among beachgoers, advising “this technology will provide our lifeguards and the general public with valuable, real-time information and reporting, helping to create safer beaches for everyone.

“It is world-first technology which will be developed and trialled over the next 12 months, with the hope to roll it out at the end of the 18-month project, including an app with up-to-the-minute localised beach information, including weather and surf conditions, and how busy the beach is.

“Our local government area includes 32 kilometres of spectacular coast and four patrolled beaches, which collectively attract more than 1.4 million people a year so we know such an app will be a popular tool for many of our beach goers.”

Northern Beaches Mayor, Michael Regan, said he was thrilled this important project had been able to attract the significant funding required to make it work.

Mayor Regan noted “advances in technology means there are now opportunities to provide more detailed, timely and readily available information about local beach conditions.

“We are always looking for innovative ways to provide information to our community and to keep them safe.

“These new tools tick both boxes, providing an even better and safer experience for all beach users.

“We look forward to working collaboratively with project partners to maximise the opportunity for our community.” 

Senior Research Consultant Andrew Tovey, from the UTS Knowledge Economy Institute, said the project was “an exciting opportunity” for all parties involved, explaining "this project will explore a range of emerging smart technologies and world-leading research in a real-life and quintessentially Australian context.

“We look forward to working closely with lifeguards and communities to get this new tech working effectively and appropriately to make our beaches safer and more enjoyable than ever before.”

Lake Macquarie City Council’s Leisure Services Manager, Brad Sutton, said the technology would have application on any beaches further afield - around Australia and internationally.

Sutton added “this Australian Government grant is a wonderful opportunity for Lake Macquarie and the Northern Beaches to lead the pack with smart beaches technology and make our mark on the world stage."

The concept will complement existing measures employed by both Lake Macquarie and Northern Beaches Council including lifeguards, drone technology and early shark detection systems.

The grant announcement is timely, with summer just days away and a recent report revealing coastal drownings in Australia are on the rise.

Other project partners include: Orion Integration, Nokia, Urban Institute, Dantia, NNNCo, Meshed, NSW Data Analytics Centre, Civiq, SUMS, Australian Coastal Councils Association, Australian Professional Ocean Lifeguard Association, Reekoh, Surf Life Saving NSW and Lake Macquarie Tourism.

This project received grant funding from the Australian Government.

Related Articles

18th November 2018 - Wi-Fi alerts to keep Queensland beachgoers safe this summer

19th October 2018 - Vital beach safety advice offered by Surf Life Saving New Zealand ahead of peak season

24th December 2017 - Australian Professional Ocean Lifeguard Association issues beach safety reminder

14th December 2017 - Surf Life Saving Australia reveals 116 coastal drowning deaths in 2016/17

6th January 2017 - Bondi Rescue educates the world about beach safety

10th June 2015 - Surf Life Saving NSW offer EOFY deal on Laerdal defibrillators

11th December 2014 - Australian Government provides funding for beach safety

30th November 2014 - Professional Lifeguards advocate safety first at Australian beaches

21st September 2014 - NFC identity wristbands to aid surf safety

3rd January 2014 - Professional Lifeguards say safety first at Australian beaches

3rd September 2013 - Smartphone app an important new tool for beach safety

10th October 2011 - National Coastal Safety Report confirms 61 coastal drownings in 2010/11

11th November 2010 - Coastal drownings prompts new campaign for international tourists and migrants

21st January 2010 - Professional Lifeguards reject ‘flawed’ SLSA Rip Campaign

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.