Wellington Point a designated bathing reserve

Redlands Coast’s popular Wellington Point Reserve will be safer for bathers and watercraft users, with Wellington Point beach recently designated as a bathing reserve.

Mayor Karen Williams said Council had applied to the State Government in January this year for part of the Wellington Point Reserve to be gazetted as a bathing reserve.

“The State approved the application in May, and the area designated as a bathing reserve now has some new rules to ensure safety for all users,” she said.

“When the bathing area is formally patrolled and supervised by lifeguards, an area of the beach will be physically marked with buoys and flags for the exclusive use of bathers.

“When there is no lifeguard on duty, this area will not be designated as an active bathing area, and restrictions will not apply.”

Division 1 Councillor Wendy Boglary said she was pleased that the area would have clearer boundaries for swimmers and people who use watercraft.

“This serves the interest of public safety and amenity,” she said.

“When a bathing area is active, motorised equipment must be kept at least 60 metres from all boundaries of the marked swimming area, while non-motorised equipment must be kept at least 10 metres away.

“Because Wellington Point is one of our most popular aquatic activities areas, the seaward boundary of the reserve will be 200 metres from the beach, which is half of that of other beaches.

“This will help avoid interactions between people, boats and other watercraft.

“We will ask the community in the future if this boundary should be brought even closer to better accommodate mixed use of the area but, in the meantime, we encourage everyone to keep the new rules in mind as they continue enjoying our beautiful Redlands Coast bathing areas.”

Cr Williams said the restriction on how close watercraft could come to an active bathing area applied to all bathing reserves across Redlands Coast.

“The rules are the same at Main Beach, Coochiemudlo Island; Thompsons Beach, Victoria Point; Cylinder and Main beaches at Point Lookout and Adder Rock at Amity Point as they are at Wellington Point,” she said.

“This ensures safety for everyone.”