Funded by the NSW Government under the NSW Water Safety watersafety.nsw.gov.au Black Spots Fund A NSW Government water safety initiative Coastal Public Safety Risk Assessment Bega Valley Local Government Area June 2014 Coastal Public Safety Risk Assessment: Bega Valley Local Government Area © Surf Life Saving New South Wales, Belrose 2014 All Rights Reserved. Disclaimer This work is copyright. However, material form this publication may be copied or published by State Government agencies without the permission of SLSNSW on the condition that the meaning of the material is not altered and SLSNSW is acknowledged as the source of the material. Any other persons or bodies wishing to use the material must seek permission. The views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the views of the NSW Government. Page ii of 136 Coastal Public Safety Risk Assessment: Bega Valley Local Government Area TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................................................. VII 1 INTRODUCTION, SCOPE & CONTEXT ......................................................................................................... 6 1.1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................... 6 1.2 CONTEXT AND SCOPE ................................................................................................................................... 8 1.3 LIMITATIONS ............................................................................................................................................... 9 1.4 DEFINITION OF TERMS ................................................................................................................................ 10 1.5 PROJECT TEAM / AUTHORS .......................................................................................................................... 12 2 ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................................... 13 2.1 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................................... 13 2.2 SITE IDENTIFICATION .................................................................................................................................. 13 2.3 SITE INSPECTION ........................................................................................................................................ 15 2.4 HAZARD IDENTIFICATION AND RISK ASSESSMENT ............................................................................................. 18 2.5 BEACH HAZARD RATINGS AND OVERVIEW ...................................................................................................... 19 2.6 ABSAMP TYPES AND RATINGS .................................................................................................................... 20 2.7 ABSAMP BEACH TYPE CHARACTERISTIC OVERVIEW AND HAZARDS .................................................................... 26 2.7.1 Rhythmic Bar and Beach ............................................................................................................... 26 2.7.2 Transverse Bar and Rip ................................................................................................................. 26 2.7.3 Low Tide Terrace ........................................................................................................................... 27 2.7.4 Reflective....................................................................................................................................... 28 2.7.5 Rock Platforms and Rocky Coasts ................................................................................................. 29 2.8 FACILITY VISITATION RATES (FVR) ................................................................................................................ 30 2.8.1 Facility Visitation Rating (FVR) Reference Tables ......................................................................... 30 2.9 FACILITIES AUDIT ....................................................................................................................................... 37 2.10 POPULATION, DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM................................................................................................... 38 2.10.1 Population Statistics ..................................................................................................................... 38 2.10.2 Development Plans in Bega Valley ................................................................................................ 39 2.10.3 Tourism Information ..................................................................................................................... 40 2.10.4 Beach Usage Statistics .................................................................................................................. 43 2.10.5 Drowning Incidents ....................................................................................................................... 50 2.10.6 Emergency Callouts ....................................................................................................................... 52 2.11 COMMUNICATION AND CONSULTATION ......................................................................................................... 55 3 RISK ASSESSMENT FINDINGS .................................................................................................................. 59 3.1 ACTION PLANNING PRIORITY (INHERENT GROSS RISK) ...................................................................................... 59 3.1.1 Action Planning Priority Index ....................................................................................................... 59 3.1.2 Australian Beach Safety and Management Program ................................................................... 60 3.1.3 Local Population Rating ................................................................................................................ 64 3.1.4 Human/Activity Interaction Rating ............................................................................................... 68 3.1.5 Access Rating ................................................................................................................................ 72 3.1.6 Action Planning Priority Score ....................................................................................................... 76 3.2 OVERVIEW OF PRINCIPAL RISK TREATMENTS ................................................................................................... 91 3.2.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 91 3.2.2 Hierarchy of Risk Treatments (Controls) ....................................................................................... 91 3.2.3 Education and Awareness Programs ............................................................................................ 92 3.2.4 Safety Signage ............................................................................................................................ 100 3.2.5 Emergency Marker System ......................................................................................................... 109 3.2.6 Access Infrastructure and Ongoing Capital Works/Maintenance Programs .............................. 110 3.2.7 Public Rescue Equipment ............................................................................................................ 116 3.2.8 System of Supervision ................................................................................................................. 119 4 EMERGENCY RESPONSE ....................................................................................................................... 125 4.1 EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS/REPORTING - TRIPLE ZERO (000) ................................................................... 125 Page iii of 136 Coastal Public Safety Risk Assessment: Bega Valley Local Government Area 4.2 EMERGENCY RESPONSE ALARM .................................................................................................................. 126 4.3 EMERGENCY RESPONSE BEACONS ............................................................................................................... 127 4.4 EMERGENCY SERVICE RESPONSE ................................................................................................................. 128 4.5 RADIO COVERAGE .................................................................................................................................... 131 4.6 JOINT EMERGENCY RESPONSE (LIFESAVERS AND LIFEGUARDS) .......................................................................... 133 5 MONITOR AND REVIEW ....................................................................................................................... 134 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................................................. 135 APPENDICES APPENDIX A - Access and Signage Schedule APPENDIX B - Risk Register and Treatment Plan APPENDIX C - Public Rescue Equipment APPENDIX D - Facilities Audit APPENDIX E - Coverage Maps APPENDIX F - Stakeholder Engagement APPENDIX G - Life Saving Service Level