WOOLAMAI Beach Surf Life Saving Club (WBSLSC) began repairs and maintenance to the Smiths Beach Rescue Base on Monday, August 4, 2025.
WBSLSC are managing the project with works to repair corroded steel on the rescue base structure. During the period of work, the stairs and landing (adjacent to the rescue tower) will be closed.
However, the timber accessibility ramp is planned to remain open, other than a one to three-day closure in mid-August. Access to Smiths Beach will remain open at all times via the western access stairs.
Completion of this stage of the project is likely in mid-September 2025.
Phillip Island Nature Parks will then begin separate upgrade work on the accessibility ramp (late 2025) and stairs and landing in 2026.
WBSLSC President Jason Close confirmed that contractors will do their best to minimise the inconvenience to beachgoers during the works.
The WBSLSC is very grateful for the support of members of the local community, the Smiths Beachcombers Association, Phillip Island and San Remo Rotary, the Victorian State Government's Tiny Towns Grants Program, the Victorian Emergency Services Equipment Program, Member for Bass Jordan Crugnale and Phillip Island Nature Parks.
“Over the last couple of summers, we've had a few drownings on Phillip Island at nearby beaches, so it is important for us to direct people to a beach with a rescue base and lifesavers patrolling,” Jason said. “We needed to be able to fix up the rescue base so that we can keep doing that; from the rescue base, we can see people from that elevated position, and we've got resuscitation equipment, radios and first aid equipment.”
The club is looking forward to the rescue base being ready for the summer lifesaving season and to the improvements to the landing, staircase and ramp progressing.
