Happy Valley’s newly minted stretch of post-Bribie breakthrough beach may look like a perfect spot for fun, but it’s unpatrolled by Surf Life Saving Queensland—and for good reason.
Last summer, locals and holidaymakers were met with the strong presence of red flags and “danger” no swimming signs, and this summer is shaping up to look the same.
Surf Life Saving Queensland Regional Operations Manager Aaron Purchase said the Happy Valley stretch between Kings and Bulcock Beach was not a designated bathing reserve and was unlikely to have red and yellow flags anytime soon.
“Since the river bar has pretty well closed up and moved there is so much sand and it’s enticing for visitors,” Mr Purchase said.
“It is not that we don’t want to put flags up there it’s that we don’t have the authority to do so, but there is a reason for that.
“There is a very lengthy consultation process with Council and the State Government to determine what is suitable will become a designated bathing reserve.
“Due to uncertainty with what the bar is going to do and the current conditions, that’s the circumstances for Happy Valley.”
While the 2022 tidal breakthrough created a top-notch walking beach, a safe swimming lagoon it is not.
Last year lifesavers from Ithaca Caloundra City Lifesaving on Bulcock Beach were run ragged attending call outs from beachgoers who had ignored the no swimming signs and cut their feet on concealed rocks, oyster shells or met with lurking stonefish.
Mr Purchase said while the stretch looked attractive to paddle in, beachgoers should never enter water not patrolled by red and yellow flags.
“We do have a lifeguard surveillance service there but that is not the same as a patrolled beach – this is an unpatrolled beach,” he said.
“We never encourage people to swim where we don’t have flags,”
Mr Purchase said Happy Valley conditions had been “pretty consistent” for 18 of the 20 years he had worked in the area but had changed “a hell of a lot” in the last two years.
“Happy Valley is relatively exposed so it’s not a good swimming spot anyway,” he said.
“Kings Beach is better protected and is a better option for families, plus we have flags there and it is patrolled,” he said.
Mr Purchase said the Sunshine Coast Council had a “proactive and positive relationship” with Surf Life Saving Queensland and made decisions in consultation with experts about safe spots for swimming.
“We try and adjust our services to ensure the community can utilise as many beaches as possible and we have the backing of the Council in every way – they make decisions with us as to what is in the best interests of beachgoers,” he said.
“The tidal changes in Happy Valley will likely change significantly again over the next two years and we will watch and wait in terms of what that means for conditions.”
Last season, 12 of the 13 drownings in Queensland took place outside patrolled areas or patrol hours, reinforcing the critical need to swim only between the flags.
