Kākā Point Surf Life Saving Club president Mark van Asperen reiterated the concerns yesterday, as a long-signalled funding deficit would lead to the absence of paid regional lifeguard patrols during weekdays, for the rest of the summer.
The club had required an additional $20,000 to keep the patrols going for the full six-week summer season from December 22, and it was only through cost-cutting and community donations of accommodation that four weeks had been achieved, ending last week, he said.
Volunteer weekend patrols will continue unaffected by the shortfall.
The funding deficit was first flagged by the club in June last year, when it appealed to the Clutha District Council to extend its $25,000 operating grant by the additional sum, to cover the summer weekday patrols.
The council declined to provide the additional funds on that occasion, and rebuffed the club a second time in August, when Mr van Asperen made an appeal in person for councillors to reconsider their position.
Yesterday, he said the club remained grateful for existing council funding, but it had grave concerns its decision could lead to "the worst happening" at the popular Catlins beach during the remainder of the holidays.
"Regional guards were kept busy with many preventative actions for unprepared beachgoers this summer, who numbered as high as 200 per day.
"[We] managed to extend the regional guard five further days than planned by cutting costs and the generosity of a local donating their house to accommodate out-of-town patrolees.
"Unfortunately, weekday patrols have now had to end. We’ve seen how many people enter the water unprepared, and fear it’s only a matter of time until the worst happens."
When declining the club’s request for additional funding, councillors said they were concerned any grant would be used to pay "non-local" lifeguards from Dunedin.
However, Mr van Asperen said all local lifeguards applying for paid work this summer had been prioritised.
"All three local lifeguards who applied were prioritised and accepted for regional guard roles, with the balance of guards required attending from Dunedin.
"We feel we’ve done everything we can to bring this issue to light and just hope Surf Life Saving New Zealand and the council can reach an accommodation in time for next summer."
He urged swimmers at Kākā Point to exercise extra caution for the remainder of the holidays.
