Chamber calls for beach cleaning review
Peninsula Chamber of Commerce has called for a review of Gosford Council beach-cleaning procedures following recent needle-stick incidents at Ettalong and Umina beaches.
A 15-year-old boy was sitting on Ettalong Beach with his girlfriend when his hand made contact with a dumped syringe on January 31.
The teenager was taken to Woy Woy Hospital where he was given a tetanus shot and blood test.
He will undergo another blood test in three months time to determine any traces of transmitted diseases.
The incident at Ettalong Beach comes two weeks after a six-year-old boy stepped on a used syringe at Umina Beach.
"The chamber recognises that council does an excellent job in maintaining and making safe our beaches but perhaps this is a little wake-up call to review current procedures," Mr Wales said.
"The recent needle incident highlights the need for council to be extremely diligent in ensuring that our beaches are kept clean and safe for the community.
"The Chamber advocates for a regular review of beach cleaning practices to ensure that the best possible methods are employed," Mr Wales said.
Director of city services Mr Stephen Glen said that the current beach cleaning procedures were coordinated by council's recreation operations section.
He stated routine cleaning and maintenance took place at Umina and Ocean Beach.
According to Mr Glen, other beaches not included in council's routine beach cleaning procedures were the subject of regular inspections and cleaned as required.
Mr Glen stated manual and mechanical cleaning took place on weekdays throughout the swimming season from September to April, with additional manual and mechanical cleaning completed throughout the Christmas school holiday period.
Mr Glen also stated that during the off-season, cleaning was determined by regular inspection.
"It is important to note that mechanical cleaning of beaches applies to the area immediately in front of the respective surf life saving clubs and 100 metres either side."
The mother of the 15-year-old boy who came into contact with a needle said she was very frustrated by the lack of consideration and selfishness of those who dumped their used syringes.
"Council is not to blame for the lack of humanitarians in the area," Ms Susan Gibson said.
"They could provide a few more bins, but would these people make use of them?
"Even non-drug users leave their mess behind them on the beach.
"Perhaps we need rangers who either fine people on the spot or take them away.
"It comes down to a self centred, lack of consideration for others.""
Ms Gibson said doctors assessed the incident as low risk to her son's health.
"The doctor said it was a low risk incident because the needle seemed old and viruses only live for 10 hours in the open," Ms Gibson said.
"So we were sent for a blood test and then another in three months, when we shall see if there are any changes.
"If it was a high risk incident (a syringe full of fresh blood) he would have been sent straight to Gosford Hospital and placed on a HIV antibody drip."
Email, 29 Jan 2009
Matthew Wales, Peninsula Chamber of Commerce
Letter, 3 Feb 2009
Stephen Glen, Gosford Council
Clare Graham, 11 Feb 2009
Interviewee: Susan Gibson