Mornington Peninsula’s urgent response to rising drowning rates: A united community in action

By Sarah Podesta, State Aquatics Manager, Belgravia Leisure

Whilst the Mornington Peninsula has beautiful beaches and a vibrant tourist market, these features have also led the LGA to having the highest rate of drownings in Victoria. The stark reality is that on the Mornington Peninsula, there is a 100% likelihood of a drowning death every year, with a 96% chance that it will involve a local resident.

As a passionate local, mum of young children and an aquatic expert with the ability to create change in this space, it was clear to me that this emergency called for community bodies to work together on a solution in the fight against drowning, with a focus on education, advocacy and capacity building.

To help solve this dilemma, I worked with the Aquatics and Community Engagement teams at Belgravia Leisure (including amazing colleagues such as Miranda Doherty at Yawa Aquatic Centre), and by early 2024, together we spearheaded the launch of a Mornington Peninsula Local Aquatic Action Working Group.  

Powered by a desire to reduce the alarming drowning rates in the region, this working group brings together passionate stakeholders from Local Government, Emergency Services, Community and Industry—each committed to reducing drownings through unified action. Key partners include: 

• Belgravia Leisure  
• Mornington Peninsula Shire
• SES Sorrento 
• Ambulance Victoria
• Portsea Surf Life Saving Club 
• Victoria Police 
• Parks Victoria 
• Life Saving Victoria 
• Living Culture 

And more from the education and tourism sectors.

Our first community forum in September 2024 was held at the Peninsula Boardriders Club and saw over 50 stakeholders come together to share strategies, build community capacity and brainstorm funding opportunities. Moving forward, the working group will meet bi-monthly, and more frequently over summer, to continue to build local plans and commit to implementing new programs and initiatives. 

Work is already underway with the development of a Regional Drowning Prevention Framework. This initiative, led by the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council and Bass Coast Council – with support from Belgravia Leisure and neighbouring councils – ensures that both local and regional efforts are aligned and effective.
 
With strategic objectives in place—Community Capacity Building, Advocacy, and Infrastructure—we are moving swiftly to implement successful and sustainable initiatives for the upcoming summer season. Water safety programs in our aquatic leisure centres and a Surfers Rescue Course with Free CPR and board rescue training provided by Surfing Victoria are initiatives that are already underway, with plans for signage and infrastructure to also be reviewed.

Additionally, a dedicated Aquatic Action website is in development to provide residents and visitors with essential safety information and educational resources, ensuring that our community is better equipped to prevent future tragedies.

The partnerships formed through this initiative are about creating a sustainable, collaborative approach to solving a critical issue and ensuring that every voice, from local authorities to community members, plays a role in making our coastline safer.

I’m proud to be part of the Mornington Peninsula Local Aquatic Action Working Group and cannot wait to see what we achieve by working together.  And it doesn’t have to stop there; everyone can do their bit and consider how they can help in their local community, and also by spreading the word to both locals and tourists on how to keep our waterways and beaches safe this summer.

Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to build a safer future for the Mornington Peninsula.

Footnote:

Belgravia Leisure manages aquatic venues on the Mornington Peninsula including Yawa Aquatic Centre, Pelican Park Recreation Centre and Crib Point Pool. Find a location near you here.

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