Venus Bay Surf Life Saving Club flotation devices knocked back
A South Gippsland surf life saving club president pushing for the urgent installation of flotation tubes after a recent drowning has warned waiting could be deadly.
Bass Coast News
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The president of a popular surf life saving club has warned that lives are being put at risk during a “frustrating” wait for approval to install flotation devices at South Gippsland beaches.
Venus Bay Surf Life Saving Club are hoping to install around 15 flotation devices across five of their beaches after a 29-year-old science teacher drowned on January 13 while she was helping a teenager who was struggling in the water.
The intended devices could be used by members of the public during an emergency.
President Paul Hoffman said “every day waited is a day wasted” for the devices, and he can’t understand why Parks Victoria and Life Saving Victoria won’t at least agree to launch an immediate trial.
“They don’t want to give us permission to put tubes on the beach until the research is concluded and decisions are made,” he said.
“We understand research is important but why can’t we run this as a pilot at the same time?
“It’s so important to have a safety device readily accessible when there are no lifesavers around.
“If someone sees someone in trouble, human nature is that they will go into the water and try and save them.”
Even though Parks Victoria has been “supportive” of the club, Mr Hoffman said the situation is “frustrating” because they aren’t asking for funding.
“We are happy to fundraise the tubes ourselves but all we need is permission to put them on the beach,” he said.
“It’s a very simple device and life saving patrol teams already use them.”
When contacted by The Bass Coast News, both Parks Victoria and Life Saving Victoria wouldn’t comment on immediate calls to install public-use flotation devices at Venus Bay beaches — but both did say they are looking at options to improve the safety of visitors who attend those beaches.
Life Saving Victoria’s general manager of health promotion and communications, Dr Bernadette Matthews, said they are “always looking at innovative and evidence-based ways to enhance water safety outcomes” in Victorian communities.
Mr Hoffman said it was intended for each flotation device to be housed in a box which costs around $1000 in total.
He said there would be a flotation device located at beach entrance, along with other parts of the beach.
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