17/12/25 New water safety signage trial
17/12/25
A trial is now underway of new high-impact water safety signs to warn the public when visiting some of Victoria’s most dangerous beaches.
The Coastal Safety Signage Project will employ a series of different signs with explicit warnings and visuals that make clear a beach has substantial life-threatening hazards.
This may also include a clear indication if drowning incidents have occurred at a particular beach.
The signage trial will run at:
Gunnamatta Beach
Rye 16th Beach
Mills Beach
Woolamai Surf Beach
Kilcunda Beach
Forrest Caves Beach
The beaches involved in the trial have been the setting for major drowning tragedies in previous years. All of these incidents occurred at unpatrolled locations or times, outside the red and yellow flags.
The design of the signs has been developed through extensive consultation with local communities, lifesaving clubs, land managers and water safety experts, and have also drawn on elements of homemade safety signage put up at a number of beaches by local residents.
The signs will be installed temporarily over summer to complement the current safety signage. The effectiveness and impact of the signs will be monitored, with the trial results aiming to identify the most effective type of sign to communicate key risks at dangerous beaches.
Life Saving Victoria Head of Research, Evaluation and Insights and Monash University Adjunct Associate Professor Dr Bernadette Matthews said the project would play an important role in improving water safety at high-risk beaches.
“Signage is one of many tools we have to prevent drowning and improve water safety. This trial aims to find new ways to effectively communicate the hazards people may face when visiting the beach,” Dr. Matthews said.
Woolamai Beach Surf Life Saving Club President Jason Close, who is involved in the signage trial, welcomed the project reaching this key stage.
“We’ve seen too many fatal drowning incidents occur at these beaches. It’s my hope that this new signage will hit home to people just how dangerous it is to go in the water at these locations,” Mr. Close said.
Bass Coast Shire Council Coordinator Community Safety and Resilience Nick Grant-Collins thanked all involved in the initiative.
“This project has been an important collaborative effort of all land managers and stakeholders on the key issue of water safety in the community,” Mr. Grant-Collins said.
“I encourage visitors to our beaches to heed the warnings on these signs to ensure they keep themselves and their loved ones safe.”
The trial will run in conjunction with the Empowering Local Visitors project, where water safety information sessions and resources will be provided to Mornington Peninsula and Bass Coast visitor centres. This will support centre staff and volunteers to provide vital water safety advice to people visiting these regions and their waterways.
These projects are delivered by Life Saving Victoria and supported by Monash University, Liminal VR, Bass Coast Shire Council, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, City of Casey Council, Enliven, Belgravia Leisure, Parks Victoria and Phillip Island Nature Parks.
The Coastal Safety Signage Project is funded by the Australian Government through Surf Life Saving Australia’s Beach Drowning Blackspot Reduction Program. The Empowering Local Visitors project is supported by a grant from the Andrews Foundation.
For further information contact the LSV Media team: media@lsv.com.au / 03 9676 6970.