Every summer, our local lifeguards are busy keeping swimmers safe at the beach. With numbers of visitors nearing the 1,000 mark some days, this is no small feat.

The Christmas-New Year period was very busy at times, but quieter on other days due to weather conditions. January 4th was a stunning day with beautiful conditions and Omaha Beach had close to 1,000 visitors.

The weather is forecast to be better over the next few weeks, and if it's fine, many are expected to head to the beach. 

Over the Christmas and New Year period, Omaha beach thankfully had no major incidents; only minor first aid was required for a few beach goers. 

There were, however, reports of multiple watercraft driving dangerously fast and too close to the shore. Dangerous use of jet skis near swimmers have presented a challenge to Surf Life Saving Northern Region lifeguards this summer.

SLSNR Operations Manager Alan Gibson says it is fortunate no one has been injured by jet ski operators at the beaches “but if this sort of behaviour continues, it's only a matter of time before a serious accident occurs." He says guards had been working hard to educate and inform the public about speed issues.

Lifeguards will continue to be on patrol at the Northern Region beaches for the next 16 weeks.