As the days get longer and the temperatures rise, Kiama Council is reminding residents and visitors to make safety a priority by swimming only at patrolled beaches during the spring school holidays.

Patrols officially kick off Saturday 27 September, with Council lifeguards and volunteer surf lifesavers on duty across our most popular spots.

Patrol hours will be:

Surf Beach: Patrolled daily 10am – 4pm

Jones Beach & Werri Beach: Patrolled on weekends only, 10am – 4pm

Beach safety will ramp up even further from 22 December, when Council's full summer lifeguard team comes on board.

“No matter how confident you are in the surf, one rule applies to everyone: if there are no red and yellow flags, don’t swim," Supervising Lifeguard Craig Bowley said.

“While our beaches are stunning, they can also be unpredictable.

"South Bombo Beach, in particular, is one of the most hazardous locations along our coastline.”

To improve safety, Kiama Council and Surf Life Saving NSW have installed Emergency Relay Beacons (ERBs) at high-risk areas including South Bombo, Kendalls Beach, and Blowhole Point.

In an emergency, these beacons connect you immediately to the Surf Life Saving NSW Operations Centre and alert nearby lifesavers via text.