The city's beaches will be patrolled by council lifeguards on Sundays for the first time from this weekend to create a COVID safe summer.
Saturday marks the official beginning of beach season and City of Newcastle lifeguards will kick off a seven-day summer roster, working with lifesaving clubs to patrol beaches and keep the community safe as it adapts to COVID-19 conditions.
While lifeguards patrol year-round at Nobbys, Bar and Merewether and Newcastle Ocean Baths, the annual 30-week patrols will start at Dixon Park, Newcastle and Stockton, and Merewether Ocean Baths.
More than 1.2 million people visited local beaches last year and Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said she was confident locals would continue to follow physical distancing measures this season.
"Last beach season our lifeguards did an amazing job keeping people safe in the water and taking the extra responsibility of encouraging social distancing when the pandemic related restrictions were announced in March," Cr Nelmes said.
"Our incredible team of lifeguards and aquatics staff carry out their important service every year with great courage and skill, protecting and educating tourists and locals at our beaches, ocean baths and pools.
"While people's beach experiences may look different this season, the usual beach rules apply including swimming between the flags and obeying the instructions of lifeguards which will include avoiding over-crowded areas.
Additional lifeguards will be provided as COVID safe marshals to patrol local beaches and baths on weekends and during school holidays to educate the community about requirements under the Public Health Order, monitor crowd sizes and promote water safety.
Prominent signage will also remind people about the need to maintain physical distance by keeping a towel length between them and other beachgoers, avoid large gatherings and to stay home if they are unwell.
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