Background
Royal Life Saving research has identified the River Murray as a key waterway of concern. It is the number one drowning blackspot waterway in Australia.
Tragically, between July 2002 and June 2024:
- 34 people drowned along the River Murray and in the Lower Lakes regions of South Australia,
- 97% drown in the an inland body of water (river, lake or dam).
- 70% were aged 55 years and older
- 70% of cases recorded the presence of alcohol
- 94% of those who drowned were males
To address this, locally focused water safety strategies have been developed for the Riverland and Murraylands and Lakes regions, bringing together emergency services, government agencies, councils and community organisations to reduce drowning and improve safety along one of South Australia’s most heavily used waterways.
About the initiative
The initiative seeks to:
- Gather and report on intelligence and data relating to water safety, drowning and water activities in the region
- Identify key opportunities to improve drowning prevention and water safety in the region
- Facilitate common understanding of local drowning and water safety issues, research, data, solutions
- Facilitate common agreement of intention to develop a local water safety strategy
- Workshop collective solutions / actions
- Collate and synthesise actions into a local water safety strategy / drowning prevention plan
