Durras resident and Batemans Bay Surf Life Saving Club member Geoff Perrem with duty officer Anthony Bellette and surf club president Kate Hunt. Photo: ESC.
Drownings on remote beaches in the north of the Eurobodalla have prompted lifesavers, council, and the community to come together in search of a solution.
In the past five years Batemans Bay Surf Lifesaving Club has responded to 61 rescues outside of general patrol duties. For callouts to Durras, that means a 30-minute trip, hauling gear from the surf club at Malua Bay.
Branch duty officer Anthony Bellette said Bondi Surf Lifesaving Club donated an inflatable rescue boat (IRB), which was a good start toward getting necessary gear closer to the action, sooner.
“We have been passionate about increasing lifesaving coverage across the northern part of our branch,” Mr Bellette said.
“Durras is a beautiful area of national parks and remote camping, but no patrolled beaches and there have been fatalities. We’ve had several callouts to Pebbly Beach over the years, and a recent drowning prompted us to find a better solution.
“The IRB has already proven its worth being tasked to help two people out of a rip last weekend. But it’s parked at the house of one of our members – that isn’t ideal.”
Mr Bellette contacted Eurobodalla Council and the Durras Community Association, looking for a suitable facility to store rescue equipment. Council’s recreation development coordinator Tina Smith said the vacant sportsground facility was a perfect fit.
Eurobodalla Council, Batemans Bay Surf Life Saving Club and the Durras Community Association put their heads together to transform a dormant community building into a rescue services storage facility. Photo: ESC.
“This building has sat dormant for about 20 years – since the last time it was used by the local soccer club,” Ms Smith said.
“We’ve replaced the roof and will give it a tidy-up – remove the graffiti and upgrade the toilets. We are also negotiating with a local playgroup to see them use the other half of the building.”
Ms Smith said council fast-tracked the licence so the surf club could begin improvements to the building in time for summer.
“It’s exciting to get the building back in use and we’ll help make it fit for purpose,” Ms Smith said.
The Durras Community Association put $5000 towards lifesaving gear, Reflex roller doors donated a garage door and Camerons Hardware donated construction materials. Mr Bellette said volunteer tradies were already lined up to do the work.
Quick access to the IRB and emergency resuscitation equipment will be great for surf rescues, but also for bushfire evacuations.
“With one way in and out of Durras, we can help people evacuate by water if the road gets blocked like it did during the 2019-20 bushfires,” he said.
Ahead of summer, Mr Bellette was keen to recruit more people to join the Durras call-out team, which will respond to incidents as far north as Dolphin Point. Any interested Durras residents can contact [email protected]
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