Water safety boosted with new signage

Published on 11 February 2021

Frankston City Council is boosting water safety with new signage at key coastal locations across the municipality.

North-West Ward Cr Sue Baker said Frankston City boasted 11km of award winning beaches, adding: “It’s wonderful to see residents and visitors enjoying our coastline and waterways, however, it’s critical that safety is prioritised.

“The new signage will help to guide people in making informed decisions about their safety when heading to our waterways,” she said.

Council has installed water safety signs at Gulls Way, Frankston South (off Yamala Dve); Olivers Hill Boat Ramp; Frankston Pier; Frankston Yacht Club; Frankston Life Saving Club; Long Island, Gould St (near Long Island Tennis Club); Seaford Rd, Seaford; Seaford Pier; Seaford Beach (opposite the Riviera Hotel); and Keast Park, Seaford, to reinforce the importance of water safety.

Cr Baker said the Council was also reviewing other areas with a view to provide additional signage using internationally recognised symbols to enhance the water safety message.

“We’ve recently engaged Life Saving Victoria to conduct a risk assessment for the Frankston City coastline, which is currently underway, and we look forward to the recommendations,” she said.

The new signage comes amid a horror drowning season, which Life Saving Victoria General Manager Health Promotion and Communications, Dr Bernadette Matthews, called “the worst on record”.

“Since 1 July 2020, 43 people have fatally drowned in Victorian waters. Every drowning incident is a tragedy, which is why we’re urging people to help us stop this trend in its tracks by making safety their top priority around water,” she said.

“Our advice to beachgoers and waterway users is that every beach and waterway has different hazards, so we do urge you to take time to read safety signs to understand the local hazards before entering the water.

“While these signs are there to help guide your decision making around waterways, your safety is your responsibility and it’s important that you also check the local conditions before swimming, always stay within your limits and actively supervise children.

“It only takes a few centimetres of water and as little as twenty seconds for a child to drown, so always keep children under five within arm’s reach and under 10s in eyesight,” Dr Matthews said.

Frankston Life Saving Club President Tim Cutrona said: “In response to the tragic drownings so far this season, lifeguarding services have been extended across 18 patrolled sites including Frankston until 21 February, ahead of their planned end after Australia Day.

“If you’re heading to the beach during this period, please make sure you’re going to one of these sites and swimming between the red and yellow flags during patrolled times. We’re here to help, but if we can’t see you, we can’t save you,” Mr Cutrona said.

Mr Cutrona, who is Frankston City’s 2021 Citizen of the Year, said four Jet Ski services have also been extended to now include weekday support across a range of areas, including Kingston which covers the Frankston area, until 28 February.

For more information about beach safety and patrolled times at a location near you, go to www.beachsafe.org.au