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Gippsland beach visitors must prioritise safety and swim in lifeguard-monitored areas between designated flags for 2024 Labor Day weekend

Beach authorities emphasise safety in the Bass Coast region. Patrolled beaches are urged, caution advised with high temperatures. Increased communication efforts initiated for visitor safety.

By news@gippsland - 7th March 2024 - Back to News

As the long weekend approaches with expected high temperatures, we again urge beachgoers to safely manage their visits to the Bass Coast region. As always, we encourage all beach users to assess the environment and take precautions to prevent tragedy by swimming or wading on patrolled beaches, checking signs and swimming or wading only between the flags.

VMS boards which are located in Kilcunda and at Phillip Island Visitor Centre

Beach safety measures

If you are unsure about conditions on a beach; do not swim there. Please only enter the water on patrolled beaches where there are lifeguards. We want everyone who comes to enjoy our beaches to go home safely. We encourage all visitors and residents to download the Beach Safe app (Beachsafe App | SLSA Beachsafe) and access key beach safety messaging on the Life Saving Victoria website and throughout our Visitor Information Centres.

For the long weekend, council is providing increased print and digital communications in addition to the existing beach signage and messaging. In partnership with Life Saving Victoria and relevant agencies, council has increased beach safety messaging on social media and will utilise print and VMS board messaging at key locations throughout the Shire.

Enhancing beach safety

Inter-agency collaboration to improve beach safety in Bass Coast Shire is ongoing, and relevant stakeholders have convened multiple times over the last months to review data and recent events, and identify opportunities to strengthen messaging in the longer term.

While council only directly controls signage at council-managed beaches, council continues to drive a collaborative approach across agencies to maintain consistency and drive overall beach safety across the Shire. Council will continue to advocate state and federal governments to boost beach safety as part of their tourism and migration strategies, while urging local community members and visitors to stay safe at our beautiful beaches.

Pictures from Bass Coast Shire Council website.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com