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People living in South East Queensland are being invited to have their say on the newly released draft South East Queensland Water Safety Strategy - developed in response to high levels of fatal drowning in the region.

The Strategy follows a two-day forum which gathered community groups, emergency services, water safety experts and government representatives from a range of local, state and federal government agencies in May.

Forum attendees identified 17 priority areas accompanied by action items that they believe will move South East Queensland closer towards the target of reducing drowning by 50% by 2027.

New research showing 366 people had drowned in the past 10 years in South East Queensland, making it a drowning blackspot, prompted the Royal Life Saving to convene the forum.

Forum co-host, Royal Life Saving Society - Queensland Executive Director Paul Barry said this was the first time that all three layers of government have come together in Queensland with such a varied group of stakeholders to cover drowning prevention challenges across the important geographical region.

Barry advised “this strategy will help guide collective policy and action to reduce the drowning toll and we invite anyone living in the region to provide their feedback.

“Every person who drowns is a beloved family member, colleague, child or parent, and every drowning has tragic consequences for the whole community.

“Our hope is that individuals, governments, media organisations and community groups pick up this strategy and instead of working out who is responsible for what, work out what they can do to save lives and make a difference.”

Noting that the strategy provides a compelling call to action and strikes an appropriate balance between setting strategies for policy and practice, Surf Life Saving Queensland Chief Executive, David Whimpey explained “Surf Life Saving Queensland is supportive of empowering community members to be safe in, on and around the water and this strategy is in total alignment with our vision of zero preventable deaths in Queensland public waters.

“We encourage stakeholders to take up this strategy, but also for community members to get involved in lifesaving.”

Forum co-host, City of Gold Coast’s acting Branch Manager for Community Venues and Services, Tim Goward said the Council’s aquatic facilities can play a meaningful role in reducing the drowning toll.

Goward added “community pools are a great place for people to swim, and we believe our Council-owned facilities can play a positive role in implementing relevant parts of the strategy.

“We would encourage everyone who comes in for a swim or enjoys any of the beautiful local waterways to share their thoughts on the draft strategy.

“The Council intends to review municipal water safety planning arrangements and seek to develop a local water safety plan which supports the achievement of the targets in the strategy.”

Responses are open until 31st July 2023

Click here to view the draft water safety strategy.

Click here to view the digital feedback form.

Images: The draft South East Queensland Water Safety Strategy (top) and attendees at the recent South East Queensland water safety forum (below).

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