The government announced earlier this week an extra $3 million in funding for Australia's 310 surf lifesaving clubs, on top of the $15 million already spent over the past five years.

President of the Batemans Bay Surf Lifesaving Club Colin Knight said the money would go towards vital equipment used by lifeguards in the surf and on the beach.

"We need to update some of the stuff that we have, like defibrillators and first-aid kits, as well as spinal collars and spinal boards," he said.

"It's all the ancillary equipment that we need. It's not necessarily the first thing you would think off that a surf club would need."

The president said he did not know how much money the club would receive as a result, or whether an application would have to be made in order to secure it.

However, he said any future government funding would go towards the operational side of the club, rather than immediate rescue equipment.

'We've only just purchased a new rubber duckie. At the moment, we're well off for craft," he said.

The extra funding for south coast clubs comes after a slow start to the summer season, with the number of rescues down compared to this time last year.

Mr Knight said while there have been no major rescues at Batemans Bay so far this summer, lifeguards have still been busy, as Canberrans flock to the coast.

"There's been a lot of preventative action, which is letting swimmers know that they're swimming outside of the flags, or swimming in dangerous areas," he said.

"There's been a very proactive push on social media to let swimmers know to swim between the flags."

Announcing the funding measures earlier this week, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said part of the $3 million would go towards using drones to spot swimmers in trouble.

"It's one very good way to find out what is going on out the back, past that break, whether there is somebody out there who is struggling," he said.

"All of that technology is vital."

Mr Knight said while drones may also be used in other locations to spot sharks, beaches in Batemans Bay were well serviced by regular aerial patrols.

"We still have fairly active patrols, but for the drones, they would probably be used by metro beaches such as Bondi and Coogee," he said.

The club president said lifesavers were gearing up for a busy couple of weeks in the lead up to Australia Day.

"It's otherwise business as usual for us," he said.