Hobsons Bay City Council will work with other coastal councils to advocate for crucial funding to keep beaches safe this summer and into the future.
Life Saving Victoria recently requested Council fund paid lifeguard services at Altona and Williamstown beaches over summer.
At the September Council meeting, a motion was passed unanimously for Hobsons Bay to communicate with other Port Phillip Bay councils through the Association of Bayside Municipalities and Municipal Association of Victoria, to suggest a joint advocacy effort for increased funding towards a paid lifeguard service by the Victorian Government.
Life Saving Victoria has requested more than $88,000 of funding from Council to cover lifeguard costs over summer.
Council has not previously covered this cost, with Life Saving Victoria allocated grants from the Victorian Government.
Hobsons Bay has advocated to the Victorian Government to review the funding model, with Mayor Daria Kellander writing to local MPs Melissa Horne, Mathew Hilakari and Sarah Connolly to highlight safety concerns associated with the funding reduction.
Quotes attributable to Mayor of Hobsons Bay, Cr Daria Kellander:
"While we are a coastal city, our beaches are enjoyed by people from across Melbourne and Victoria.
"We recognise lifesaving is a vital service to keep our community safe, but the financial burden should not be handed over to select councils.
"While we do provide a service to maintain the cleanliness of the beaches themselves, the water at our beaches is a matter for state bodies.
"We are collecting about $9 million for the emergency services and volunteers fund on behalf of the state government, so surely it can find $90,000 to fund this crucial service to keep all beachgoers safe."
