SUBMERGED rocks are continuing to cause major concerns at Port Macquarie’s Town Beach.
Port Macquarie-Hastings Council senior lifeguard Grant Hudson said sand movement last week had left a number of submerged rocks exposed in the swimming area.
He said the rocks were in knee-deep water and were extremely sharp. He said they posed a particular risk to people running and diving head-first into the water.
Mr Hudson and fellow lifeguards conducted a risk assessment at the popular beach this morning (Wednesday). He said lifeguards would continue to monitor the situation but there was a distinct chance lifeguards would be unable to provide a safe swimming area at low tide.
If this is the case, the flags will be taken down and swimmers directed to one of the region’s other patrolled beaches. This could happen as early as this afternoon.
Mr Hudson said the sand movement had occurred despite “amazing” conditions at Town Beach and it was unfortunate the sand had moved the wrong way and had simply ‘disappeared’.
He said council wouldn’t be closing Town Beach but any decision on where the supervised swimming area was located – and for how long – will depend very much on the tides.
Anyone with questions about the conditions at Town Beach is encouraged to speak to one of the council lifeguards on patrol.
