Charles Sturt Council to consider push for paid surf life savers at Henley Beach this summer Henley Surf Lifesaving Club captain Tom Lanyon has supported a move for council funding for paid surf life savers this summer. HENLEY would become the second Adelaide beach to have paid lifesavers patrolling the coast this summer under a plan to be considered by Charles Sturt Council. The lifesavers would patrol Henley Beach between Proclamation Day and New Year's Day, costing the council about $2000. The move has been backed by Henley Surf Life Saving Club, which has watched the beach's popularity steadily increase. Henley Ward Councillor Bob Randall said he hoped the patrol periods could be expanded to weekdays during the summer from December 2014 and would bid for funding in next year's budget. Do you think Henley Beach needs paid surf life savers? Cr Randall said he would ask his fellow councillors at Charles Sturt's meeting on Monday, December 9, to endorse releasing the cash from his discretionary ward allowance. The lifesavers would mostly come from the Henley Surf Life Saving Club and Cr Randall said he would consult the club and community to determine what hours and how many lifesavers could be employed. MORE: Henley Beach Surf Life Saving Club opens $3.5m headquarters Club president Neville Fielder said the paid help would become increasingly important as an $8 million Henley Square redevelopment took shape towards the end of next year. The Charles Sturt Council project is expected to include water play fountains and a wading pool, deck area with seating and feature lighting. "It (paid lifesavers) would compliment the upgrade which is designed to make the square as family-oriented as possible," Mr Fielder said. He said volunteers patrolled on weekends and public holidays from 11am-6pm but paid volunteers would be especially useful on weekdays when members were at work. Club captain Tom Lanyon agreed paid lifesavers would improve safety at the busy beach, particularly during hot summer days. "We are supportive of anything that would increase beach safety and could potentially save lives," Mr Lanyon said. Holdfast Bay Council pays $32,000 to Surf Life Saving SA, which helps to fund paid lifeguards during the summer from Monday to Friday. Paid lifesavers also patrol Normanville beach during the summer school holidays.