THE PROBLEM
The Noreuil Parkand Lake Hume foreshores are among the most popular places in the Albury region to escape the summer heat. Sadly, the Murray River is the number one river drowning blackspot in Australia with over 70 unintentional fatal drownings since 2002.
AlburyCity engaged Royal Life Saving (RLS) NSW, the peak body in NSW for drowning prevention leadership and education, to assist in developing a draft Inland Waterways Drowning Prevention Strategy.
The strategy was developed in consultation with the community through an online survey and community drowning prevention workshop with community leaders, local emergency agencies and other key stakeholders in our region.
Some of the key actions in the strategy include:
- Investigating the feasibility of a pilot for installing emergency help points, rescue equipment and communication systems
- Investigating the feasibility of a community program which trains members of the public in rescue and resuscitation
- Regularly checking and removing permanent and transitory hazards
- Investigating the feasibility of a pilot for a safe designated swimming area at an identified location at Lake Hume
- Implementing an Inland Waterways Safety Campaign and an education program targeting CALD communities
- Investigating the feasibility of implementing a renewed safety signage system at identified locations
- Implementing a trial for free pool entry days at our swim centres on high risk days such as Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Years Eve and New Years Day... and more.
A draft strategy is currently available for community consultation on the Council website.
You can learn more about this on the Albury City Council Website:
