BY DAKOTA TAIT
Hunter lifesavers are looking forward to big crowds on our local beaches this Saturday with the start of the patrol season.
With most of the community unable to travel overseas or interstate for their holidays, beach attendance is expected to be high.
Hunter Surf Lifesaving will raise the flags at Nobbys Beach at 9am to start off their 103rd season of patrolling Hunter beaches, while 62 new lifesavers will also be tested to join the club's 8,000 strong membership.
Rhonda Scruton, CEO of Hunter Surf Lifesaving, says the pandemic meant the upcoming season would be the "same but different".
"Everyone's under stress," Ms Scruton said. "We want people to enjoy their wellbeing being out in the sun at the beach, though it is a matter of just coming along, do the right thing, 1.5 metres apart, have your swim, dry off, and maybe go home so someone else can come."
"We will be asking people to social distance more, and if we do reach capacity, we will be asking people to leave the beach so others can come and enjoy the beach also."
Danny Napper, Beach Team Leader of Lake Macquarie Lifeguards, said local beaches could fit up to 5,000 people but were unlikely to reach capacity.
"We're still encouraging people to come down, swim in the flags obviously, because that's the safest place, but spread out when you're on the beach," Mr Napper said.
"There's plenty of room on the sand, so make sure you're getting that one towel width apart, giving yourself a fair bit of distance between groups as well."
