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TRIAL OF REMOTE RESCUE TUBES/LIFE RINGS AT UNPATROLLED BEACHES · 2024-09-19 Notice of Motion - Cr Lorentson - trial of rescue tubes at unpatrolled beaches
%9 NOOSA #®& Council NOTICE OF MOTION SUBMITTED BY COUNCILLOR: Cr Amelia Lorentson COUNCIL MEETING: Ordinary Meeting, 19 September 2024 | hereby notify of my intention to move the following motion at the Ordinary Meeting dated Thursday, 19 September 2024 TRIAL OF REMOTE RESCUE TUBES/LIFE RINGS AT UNPATROLLED BEACHES That Council request the CEO to provide a report to Council that investigates the opportunity to install Remote Rescue Tubes/Life Rings at selected unpatrolled beach locations with the possibility of conducting a trial of a single site prior to any further action. A, i . 12 September 2024 Councillor Date COUNCILLOR COMMENT There are a number of remote beaches in Noosa Shire that are not regularly patrolled by either professional or volunteer lifesavers. This report will seek to address the risk of drowning incidents in unpatrolled areas or during out-of-hours periods through the use of remote supervision and self- service rescue tubes. In northern NSW a trial has been undertaken where either a rescue tube or life ring is strategically placed on an unpatrolled beach to be used in the case of a potential incident to save lives. The trial has been shown to have been successful and it is proposed that the same may be possible in Noosa Shire. Before a trial can be conducted it is requested that a review be undertaken to inform a report that will be presented to the Councillors to determine whether a trial should be conducted. The report will include a review of the existing trial that was conducted in NSW, identification of potential sites, an analysis of the potential cost, a comprehensive breakdown of all identified risks and a review of potential stakeholders and partners. Council requests the CEO to: 1. Report on Feasibility: Report back on the feasibility of conducting a remote rescue tubel/life ring trial at unpatrolled locations with high visitation. This report should include data on visitation numbers at these locations, particularly at Sunrise Beach and North Peregian Beach. 2. Consult Insurers: Consult the Council’s insurers to ensure support for the initiative and confirm that no additional liability would be incurred should the units be damaged, stolen, or an incident occur while using the rescue tubes. Page 1 of 3
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3. Seek Expert Insights: Contact Greg Hackfath, Team Leader of Lifeguard Services at Coffs Harbour, who pioneered a similar project, for insights and guidance. 4. Explore Emergency Beacons: Explore using Surf Life Saving Queensland's (SLSQ) emergency beacons with the rescue tubes/life rings. This would allow beachgoers to contact emergency response by pressing a button, and the tubes/life rings would have clear location markings, including access numbers, to assist emergency responders. Background: Rescue tubes and life rings are widely used across Australia, Europe, and the United States as essential public rescue equipment, yet Queensland is lagging in adopting these life-saving measures. Coffs Harbour has implemented a successful remote rescue tube project across the Central and Northern Coastlines of New South Wales, and similar initiatives are prevalent in places like Hawaii, New Zealand, and Zambia. From Escambia County in Florida to the beaches of Denmark and Germany, these devices have proven effective in preventing drowning incidents. The global adoption of rescue tubes and life rings highlights the need for Queensland to implement similar measures for unpatrolled and remote areas. This initiative is supported by community organizations such as the Noosa Boardriders Club, Noosa Malibu Club, NWSR, NSCA, and NBFA. Two near-drowning incidents in the past 12 months at North Sunshine Beach and A Bay highlight the need for better water safety measures in remote areas, despite long-standing requests for rescue tubes at Boiling Pot, Tea Tree Bay, Granite Bay, and Alexandria Bay, a recent Surf Life Saving Queensland safety audit did not prioritize these devices, focusing instead on relocating defibrillators and installing emergency access numbering. Coffs Harbour City Council's 2019 remote rescue tube trial saw strong community support, no incidents of vandalism, and demonstrated life-saving potential. Since its implementation, no bystander drownings have been reported. This trial is a compelling precedent for Noosa’s unpatrolled and remote beach areas. Conclusion: Noosa Council has the opportunity to enhance beach safety with a remote rescue tube/life ring trial. Drawing on the success of Coffs Harbour’s initiative, this project could offer a cost-effective, community-supported solution to prevent drownings. The trial’s expansion can be carefully evaluated with key stakeholders, ensuring a safer environment for residents and visitors. Supporting Documentation: e Coffs Harbour Remote Rescue Tube Project e Courier Mail article: Sunshine Beach rescue / ABC News article: Argentina lifequard Noosa surfers rescue / https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-13/argentina-lifequard-noosa-surfers- rescue-nude-swimmers-rip/102973488 e [NSRI Pink Rescue Buoys in Zambia](https:/Avww.nsri.org.za/water-safety/pink-rescue buoys/) e Central Coast Rescue Tube Boxes - Central Coast has them: https://coastcommunitynews.com.au/central-coast/news/2024/05/rescue-tube-boxes-aim-to- reduce-beach-drownings/ e Illawarra Surf Rescue Stations - Illawarra has them: htps://regionillawara.com.au/manyana- inspiration-surf-rescue-stations-planned-for-lake-conjola-following-drowning/17514 e Hawaiian Rescue Tube Foundation / Study on Rescue Rings in Kauai - Study published on the rescue rings in Kauai: https://www.beachsafetresearch.com/blog/evauating-public-rescue-tube- deployment-in-hawaii e Surf lifesaving NZ public rescue equipment guide: https://noosatoday.com.au/news/15-01- 2022/surf -rescues-simple-solution/ e Ballina Beach Rescue Devices - Ballina has them: ballina.nsw.gov.au/beach-rescue-devices e ILS Public Information on Rescue Tubes in Europe - Europe has them - Denmark and Germany: https://europe.ilsf.org/wp- content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/202007 Public Information PRT EN.pdf e _https:/Awww.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/sunshine-coast/christine-logan-saves- woman-from-rip-at-sunshine-beach/news-story/f843ef31c4ae1c23f165c9037f4a2144
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e Blog breaking it down: https://www.surflifesaving.org.nz/media/998495/a-quide-to-public- rescue-equipment-for-new-zealand-beaches_single-pages_ nov2023pdf e Northern Beaches Community Rescue / Northern beaches: https://www.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au/council/news/community-members-save-lives- swimmers-emergency-rescue -northern beaches have boards out too e Angel rings since 1994, all up NSW coastline: http://angelring.com.au/ e Randwick Council First in Australia Randwick Council: www.randwick.nsw.gov.au/about- us/news-items/2018/march/Randwick-council-first-in-australia-to-install-publically-accessible- rescue-tube-systems-at-all-beaches e Escambia County Florida has them: https://www.obawebsite.com/new-rescue-tube-installed- at-perdido-key-boosts-beach-safety Coffs Harbour City Council a s rm ee oe | ees ; 8, aa 3 Sh oe | Ne | a * 5 = . x . . A | | “— . a . vas af a 4 a | | ome , aS eS, 2 ese Ff iy ale : — , = — a r 7 ae am E | = A _ a mle < bP Se ae \ = A a a 4 1 1 6 11 0 1238 1803 759 52 -1 5 1 1 6 11 1 1238 1808 226 47 96 Remote 5 1 1 6 11 2 1486 1808 203 46 96 Rescue 5 1 1 6 11 3 1707 1803 143 50 95 Tube 5 1 1 6 11 4 1867 1803 130 49 95 Trial 3 1 1 7 0 0 220 2364 691 35 -1 4 1 1 7 1 0 220 2364 691 35 -1 5 1 1 7 1 1 220 2366 54 33 96 To 5 1 1 7 1 2 289 2366 46 33 96 all 5 1 1 7 1 3 353 2365 250 34 96 Councillors 5 1 1 7 1 4 620 2365 76 33 95 and 5 1 1 7 1 5 713 2364 198 34 95 Directors 3 1 1 8 0 0 223 2438 2001 49 -1 4 1 1 8 1 0 223 2438 2001 49 -1 5 1 1 8 1 1 223 2444 5 34 96 | 5 1 1 8 1 2 245 2444 136 43 96 hereby 5 1 1 8 1 3 394 2443 106 43 96 notify 5 1 1 8 1 4 512 2443 77 34 96 that 5 1 1 8 1 5 603 2443 46 34 92 Cr 5 1 1 8 1 6 661 2443 197 34 92 Lorentson 5 1 1 8 1 7 874 2441 144 35 96 intends 5 1 1 8 1 8 1031 2443 34 33 96 to 5 1 1 8 1 9 1080 2450 107 25 95 move 5 1 1 8 1 10 1199 2441 62 34 96 the 5 1 1 8 1 11 1276 2440 132 34 96 motion 5 1 1 8 1 12 1422 2449 44 25 96 as 5 1 1 8 1 13 1480 2440 130 34 96 shown 5 1 1 8 1 14 1625 2439 120 35 96 above 5 1 1 8 1 15 1759 2440 35 33 96 at 5 1 1 8 1 16 1805 2439 61 34 96 the 5 1 1 8 1 17 1880 2438 176 43 96 Ordinary 5 1 1 8 1 18 2069 2438 155 43 96 Meeting 3 1 1 9 0 0 221 2495 536 44 -1 4 1 1 9 1 0 221 2495 536 44 -1 5 1 1 9 1 1 221 2497 109 34 96 dated 5 1 1 9 1 2 351 2497 44 33 96 19 5 1 1 9 1 3 412 2496 225 43 96 September 5 1 1 9 1 4 650 2495 107 34 96 2024. 3 1 1 10 0 0 245 2766 1325 129 -1 4 1 1 10 1 0 591 2766 979 46 -1 5 1 1 10 1 1 591 2770 32 42 0 S) 5 1 1 10 1 2 729 2787 16 7 0 c 5 1 1 10 1 3 1430 2766 4 3 84 ; 5 1 1 10 1 4 1546 2772 24 24 34 a 4 1 1 10 2 0 245 2856 1131 57 -1 5 1 1 10 2 1 245 2856 86 57 82 Chie 5 1 1 10 2 2 434 2859 145 35 77 écutjve 5 1 1 10 2 3 608 2859 137 34 96 Officer 5 1 1 10 2 4 1281 2857 95 33 96 Date
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