After a busy summer protecting beachgoers at Rivermouth Beach in Prevelly lifeguards have packed up operations, closing the service on Monday.
Shire of Augusta Margaret River recreation services manager Dylan Brown said the beach would now remain unpatrolled until the 2016/17 season commences in December.
The beach is patrolled by lifeguards Carter McDonald, Mick Short and Dave Alp between 10am and 5pm, seven days a week during the peak tourist period to provide visitors and locals with a supervised swimming area.
Mr Brown said beachgoers were responsible and respectful to lifeguards over the summer and thanked the public for their positivity.
“Thank you to everyone who took time to have a chat to lifeguards before heading down to the beach,” he said.
“It’s made their jobs a lot easier, particularly on the very busy days.”
Visitors to Rivermouth are reminded that lifeguards are not on duty and that the waters around Margaret River can be treacherous.
“To stay safe during this period make sure you access conditions before entering the water, consider any potential hazards, stay within your limit and don’t get in if you’d had any alcohol,” Mr Brown said.
The Fisheries Department last week reinstated their shark warning for the South West capes, drawing particular attention to the busy Anzac long weekend.
Beaches in Dunsborough, Margaret River and Augusta between Cape Leeuwin and Cape Naturaliste were under alert “due to continuing shark activity and sightings”.
Large schools of salmon in the region have led to increased shark sightings, but the lack of patrolled beaches meant swimmers and beach users needed to be vigilant.
Shark sightings at last week’s Margaret River Pro event on the World Surfing League tour had professional surfers rushing to shore on the eve of competition.
WSL officials deployed a number of jet skis throughout the competition to monitor the water and photographers were not permitted in the water, instead shooting from the relative safety of the jet skis.
