New Lifesaving Tower Officially Opened
A unique two-tier deck that will provide a combined lifeguard surveillance lookout and public viewing platform was officially opened at Diggers Beach on 1 September 2009 by the Coffs Harbour Mayor Councillor Keith Rhoades.
The platform is the latest in a series of lifeguard facilities being built along the Coffs Coast as part of the “Towers of Strength” project initiated and driven by the Rotary Club of Coffs Harbour Daybreak.
The Towers of Strength project was commenced to increase public safety on popular Coffs Coast beaches. Two towers are already operational at Park Beach and Sawtell Beach, and plans are well advanced for a fourth to be located at Red Rock Beach.
The Rotary Club of Coffs Harbour Daybreak’s fund-raising efforts have provided the major part of the $180,000 needed for the Towers.
The Club’s project coordinator, Past President Loretta Rigby, has worked tirelessly in bringing together community fund-raising activities, as well as gaining support for the project from the numerous local businesses that generously donated materials and construction expertise.
“I’m really excited about seeing the Towers of Strength at work on our beaches. If the towers are instrumental in saving even one life, then the project will have been more than worthwhile,” said Ms Rigby.
“This whole project is about saving lives, and that’s a message that struck a strong chord within our community. Many people in Coffs Harbour have contributed lots of money and time to the project, and we at Rotary Daybreak are very appreciative of that,” she said.
Ms Rigby also paid tribute to the contributions made to the project by Coffs Harbour City Council and the NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water, saying that their generous support and assistance had helped immeasurably in ensuring the success of the project.
