Background
Royal Life Saving research has identified the Murray as a key waterway of concern. It is the number one drowning blackspot waterway in Australia.
Tragically, between July 2002 and June 2023:
- 17 people drowned in the Riverland region, 16 of whom drowned in the River Murray
- 47% were within five kilometres of home when they drowned
- 29% were aged between 18 and 34 years old
- All those who drowned were males
About the initiative
The initiative seeks to:
- Gather and report on intelligence and data relating to water safety, drowning and water activities in the region
- Identify key opportunities to improve drowning prevention and water safety in the region
- Facilitate common understanding of local drowning and water safety issues, research, data, solutions
- Facilitate common agreement of intention to develop a local water safety strategy
- Workshop collective solutions / actions
- Collate and synthesise actions into a local water safety strategy / drowning prevention plan
