Venus Bay, known for its stunning yet challenging beaches, is the location for a new trial of life-saving equipment that could save lives.
LSV's Research & Health Promotion team
Public Rescue Equipment
Public rescue equipment is lifesaving equipment made available at beaches, waterways, pools and other aquatic locations to help members of the public respond quickly and safely in an emergency.
Why do we need Public Rescue Equipment?
There have been 7 drowning deaths in the South Gippsland local government area since 2014 — 75% in coastal environments such as Venus Bay, making it one of Victoria's highest drowning blackspots.
Public Rescue Equipment (PRE) stations are being piloted at Venus Bay beaches 1–5, with a station at each beach's access point. Each station has a call button linking directly to emergency services and a rescue tube for use by strong swimmers or trained personnel.
PRE is no substitute for swimming between the flags at a patrolled beach.
Venus Bay Beach No. 1 is patrolled every weekend from November to April.
Gippsland Blackspot Project Overview
The project consists of three phases split up to effectively deliver on the proposed outcomes.
Aims
The aim of the project is to determine the effectiveness of PRE stations in Gippsland. The project will accomplish this aim with short-term and long-term goals.
The short-term aims are:
- Determine stakeholder and community awareness and knowledge of risks associated with coastal waterways.
- Determine the impacts of the PRE stations including the associated communications on the community.
The long-term aims are:
- Overall decrease the number of drownings and aquatic injuries in the Gippsland region.
- Use this project as a precedent for implementation of similar PRE projects in other Victorian local government areas.
Phase 1 (Complete)
Coastal risk assessments at key blackspot locations, including Venus Bay beaches 1–5, with consultation across land managers, local life saving clubs and community groups.
Phase 2 (Complete)
Implementation of the measures determined in Phase 1, with further stakeholder consultation. Given the location's remoteness, these included:
- PRE stations installed at beaches 1–5, each comprising:
- a rescue tube attached to instructional signage, connected to emergency services (000) via a call button
- a unique Emergency Marker code
- a QR code for in-language translation, project information and beachgoer feedback
- community training and information sessions
- a media campaign promoting the stations and safe coastal behaviours.
Phase 3 (In progress)
Monitoring and evaluation of the PRE stations and awareness campaign, measuring their impact on coastal water safety knowledge, hazard identification and risk perception. The trial runs until 2027.
Acknowledgements
Special acknowledgments:
- Education, promotion and public awareness campaign project elements are funded by the Andrews Foundation.
- Life Saving Victoria acknowledges Control Centre Solutions (CartGIS Pty Ltd) as the owner of the technical elements of the PRE station equipment housing and emergency call out feature.
