Far North water safety needs new technology with value of signs ‘maxed’ out
Authorities could look to new technology to warn swimmers of potentially fatal dangers at Far North water holes after a spate of recent tragedies.
Cairns
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cairns. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Authorities could look to new technology to warn swimmers of potentially fatal dangers at Far North water holes after a spate of recent tragedies.
The Far North’s emergency services including police, ambulance, fire, SES as well as Queensland Parks and Wildlife, with tourism body TTNQ, in a combined safety campaign, said their latest message around water safety was to urge visitors to take “personal responsibility,” in the wake of six deaths since January 1, 2024.
While the base message hadn’t changed: “take notice of the warning signs and your swimming ability,” TTNQ chief executive Mark Olsen urged Far Northerners to use their local knowledge and look out for foreigners who may not understand the dangers.
“Locals have a responsibility, we know these locations we know how to keep people safe,” Mr Olsen said.
“If you see someone climbing over a fence, let them know that’s not safe: ‘I’m a local, we swim here, we don’t want to see you be pulled out of that location’.”
Mr Olsen said new videos in English, Chinese and Japanese, created in conjunction with QPWS and emergency services highlighting water safety would go online on the tourism body’s website soon.
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service regional director Matthew Brien said “by and large” the public was obeying signs, and felt there was ample information and detail warning visitors of the dangers with each location.
“Some of these signs have a mixture of languages, but also pictograms, we can’t have every language,” Mr Brien said.
“There’s only so much you can do with signs.”
Mr Brien said he’d be supportive of creating a working group comprising of experts in safety and experts in technology to find new ways to “freshen up” the warning system.
“An example that comes to mind is how TMR move their portable warning trailers around because the theory is once you see it so many times, you naturally start ignoring it.
“So whether that’s the solution for waterways or not, I think we’ve maxed out how much we can achieve with traditional signs, it’s time to look at new technology.”
Queensland Police Far North District Superintendent Mick Searle said the six deaths in the last 12 months were all visitors, doubling down on call for “locals to take responsibility.”
“It’s sometimes awkward, and at times people won’t take notice, but part of good society and the social fabric of looking after each other is trying to address unsafe behaviour, and if you can’t address it personally and you’ve got phone service, make the phone call,” he said.
Queensland Ambulance Service senior operation supervisor Jo Selby urged Queenslanders to download the Emergency Plus app, while Queensland Fire Department Acting Inspector Troy Hastie said swimmers ought to be mindful of their ability.
“If you see someone swimming there, doesn’t mean it’s safe for yourself.”
More Coverage
Originally published as Far North water safety needs new technology with value of signs ‘maxed’ out
16yo’s trans boys’ warning for all Queenslanders
A transgender Cairns teen blasted the state’s pause on new prescriptions for gender therapy meds, saying the gender-affirming care he had received had “changed his life”.
Federal government joins to call to reduce breast cancer delays
The federal government has joined the call for action, agreeing to meet with Queensland Health to tackle the long wait times for diagnostic mammograms in Far North Queensland.