Surfcam live at Anglesea

ANGLESEA has joined the list of popular beaches in the region with live surf cameras that can be accessed online.

Installed on the Anglesea Surf Life Saving Club watchtower, the cameras automatically pan from left to right on a loop taking in the surf conditions at Anglesea main beach and Point Roadknight and went live last week.

The cameras are the first step in a series of planned technological upgrades for the tower that has sat dormant for years.

Club president David Marsh said power has recently been restored and the next step is to purchase new radios to assist with the return of life guards.

“We are going to be using the lookout tower again next season and we’re in talks with Alcoa to help us support that,” he said.

“They built it for us, we want to continue to partner with them.”

Mr Marsh said it will be a valuable asset to the community when it is again patrolled, given its vantage point atop the cliffs.

“On my first watch here as a 13-year-old I saw a shark,” Mr Marsh said while standing on the tower deck.

“There was a camera there in the past, but that was years ago, this is much newer technology.”

Mr Marsh noted that while the cameras don’t zoom, and are primarily for reviewing surf conditions, in the event of an emergency authorities will be able to log in remotely and use them.

“For our club, it allows us to assess surf conditions prior to setting up for patrols,” he said.

“We would really encourage people to log in and look at conditions before they come down.

The cameras can be freely accessed three times a week, or more regularly via a paid subscription at www.surfline.com