For the past 10 years, Wollongong City Council and Wollondilly Shire Council have been working together to make sure our friends from the Shire know how to keep safe at the beach.
The Wollondilly Beach Bus is a free service that runs during the hot summer months to provide people of all ages access to one of – what we believe to be – the best beaches in the world – North Wollongong Beach.
The Beach Bus runs each Tuesday during January 2023 and picks up Wollondilly residents from 12 stops across the Shire and takes them to North Wollongong Beach where they're greeted by Wollongong City Council Lifeguards.
"It's easy to forget how lucky we are to live in Wollongong and have such incredible beaches right on our doorstep. The Wollondilly Beach Bus service is a fantastic program as it makes it possible for people who may not have access to transport access the beach," Wollongong City Council Lifeguard Supervisor Nathan Mitchell said.
"We often see a lot of young people from Wollondilly using the service as it's a great way to get out of the house during the summer holidays. Being greeted by one of our Lifeguards they're able to hear from our team directly about being safe at the beach and foreshore."
Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said that being safe at the beach was an important message.
"Beach safety is something we all need to prioritise, and that especially goes for those who don't visit the coast often," Cr Bradbery said.
"I'd like to remind everyone that our Lifeguards need your help this summer to make sure that not only you have a good time, but that you also go home safe without an incident. The ocean is unpredictable and even strong swimmers can get in trouble.
"To do this, always swim at one of our 17 patrolled locations and follow the lifeguard's safety directions, which you can find on Council's website"
All beachgoers are reminded to look for the red and yellow flags before entering the water. No flags = no swim.
Wollondilly Shire Council Mayor, Matt Gould said: "As our popular Beach Bus service reaches its tenth year of operation, we are thankful for the partnership we have developed with Wollongong Council."
"Having the lifeguards greeting our Wollondilly residents as they arrive at North Wollongong Beach ensures that they get the important safety information they need for an enjoyable day on the coast."
"I look forward to a continued collaboration between our two Councils as we provide residents with this fantastic access to the beach in the hottest part of summer."
