community services · Randwick City Council
Little Bay beach-safety signs face multilingual accuracy audit
Little Bay Beach is among the Randwick coastline sites covered by checks of translation accuracy, cultural appropriateness and sign condition, with professionally verified replacements and a multicultural QR service to be investigated.
Visitors to Little Bay Beach and other Randwick-managed beaches will be covered by an audit of multilingual safety signs, after Randwick City Council ordered checks of every language translation and the condition of life-jacket signage across its beaches.
The audit will assess whether signs are accurate, culturally appropriate, durable and effective at communicating safety messages. It will cover Council-managed beaches and coastal reserves, including Little Bay Beach.
Where inaccuracies or deterioration are found, Council will investigate replacing signs with professionally translated, independently verified and weather-resistant materials. The resolution does not approve a replacement program, languages, budget or installation date.
Council will also investigate adding multilingual beach information in languages commonly spoken by visitors. A multicultural QR code linking to beach information is part of the investigation.
Options, estimated costs and recommendations will be reported to Council at a future date that has not been specified.
The resolution was moved by Councillor Asgari and seconded by Councillor Magner at the 28 July ordinary meeting. Councillors rejected an amendment from Councillor Burst and Councillor Rosenfeld that would have limited the specific life-jacket signage review to Little Bay Beach and required a report on the audit's outcome, recommended improvements and associated costs.
The broader resolution instead requires the life-jacket review at all beaches, while also directing Council to report on multilingual additions, options and costs.
The signage investigation was one of several beach-safety measures approved at the meeting. Council also ordered a review of professional lifeguard services at its beaches, including additional staffing and the feasibility and cost of a trial of patrols starting at 6am.
That review must consider beach visitation and usage patterns, emergency response requirements, operational demands on lifeguards and the recent shark attack at Coogee Beach. A briefing covering findings, options, estimated costs, funding implications and recommendations is due at the October 2026 Governance Advisory Committee.
Council separately requested reports on lifeguard sight lines and surveillance requirements at all Randwick patrolled beaches.
Reference minutes
Randwick City Council, Ordinary Council meeting of 28 July 2026.
Key facts from the minutes
- The audit covers Little Bay Beach and all Randwick-managed beaches and coastal reserves.
- Council will review the accuracy, cultural appropriateness, durability and condition of multilingual safety signs.
- Life-jacket safety signage at all council-managed beaches will receive specific attention.
- Potential replacement signs must use professionally translated, independently verified and weather-resistant materials.
- Council will investigate a multicultural QR code linking to beach information.
- Options, estimated costs and recommendations will return in a future council report.
Why it matters
- Accurate, durable safety signs and multilingual beach information can improve communication with visitors who speak languages other than English, but Council has not approved replacement funding or a rollout date.