To acknowledge the outstanding service that workers from the State Emergency Service (SES) and Rural Fire Service (RFS) provide to the community, Council is set to grant local officers and their immediate families who are present with them, free access to Council run pools on the Northern Beaches for the next 12 months.

Through the Beach Parking Policy, Council currently offers one free parking permit to each eligible member of the northern beaches branches of the SES and RFS.  

This has been taken up by 139 RFS members and 35 SES members locally.

Northern Beaches Council Mayor Michael Regan felt the pool access proposal was a ‘no brainer’.

“Council currently provides a level of support to both RFS and SES members, but if we can possibly do more, we would certainly look into it.

“The work these officers do each day is nothing short of phenomenal, especially when you consider what they have to endure some days. It is no doubt rewarding, but also confronting at times.

“The fires in NSW over December and January then the storms in February were extraordinary to say the least, and it is frightening to think how bad the damage could have been if we didn’t have our RFS and SES workers on the front line, risking their own lives to help others in need across the state.

“So if we as a Council can provide a gesture such as free aquatic family access at the Warringah Aquatic Centre and Andrew ‘Boy’ Charlton Pool at Manly, it makes sense to me,’’ the Mayor said.

Arrangements are currently underway to enable service workers to use the pools free of charge. Council will be in touch with local service commands soon.

To also honour their work, Council also plans to hold a Christmas Style Civic Event for members of northern beaches branches of the Rural Fire Service and State Emergency Service later this year, public health orders permitting.

To help support bushfire affected communities, Council will run a program of respite at the Royal Far West, Manly for school children affected by bushfires.

 Media Enquiries: media@northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au 9942 2678