RESPONSE TO NOTICE OF MOTION - TRIAL OF REMOTE RESCUE TUBES/LIFE RINGS AT UNPATROLLED BEACHES · Report

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING                                                           19 JANUARY 2026


10. Measures of Success and Failure
There are numerous references in Australia and internationally indicating that rescue tubes play a
critical role in breaking the “chain of drowning” and contributing to “successful trials.” However, there
are currently no widely accepted or readily available benchmarks for measuring success or failure
of such trials. To address this gap, the following proposed measures could be used by Council to
evaluate a trial:
Measures of success
•   Number of lives saved during the trial period
•   No bystander drownings or injuries associated with equipment use.
•   Positive feedback from the community, beachgoers and community groups
•   Equipment remains in place without incidents of vandalism or theft
•   Maintenance costs remain within allocated budget
•   No insurances claims or litigation against Council
Measures of failure
•   A rescuer is injured or dies during an attempted rescue.
•   Reputational damage to Council resulting from injury or loss of life
•   Equipment fails during a rescue attempt.
•   Equipment is vandalised, stolen, or subject to frequent misuse.
•   High maintenance costs or logistical challenges in monitoring and upkeep.
•   Council incurs legal liability due to incidents involving rescue tubes.
•   Negative feedback from stakeholders or the public.
•   Perception that Council acted prematurely or irresponsibly.
•   Media or public criticism following an incident or perceived failure.
•   Trial deemed ineffective or poorly managed.
A trial assessment should also incorporate further empirical evidence and this could include the
following:
     1. Was there evidence of cabinets encouraging swimming outside patrolled areas, creating a
        false sense of security?
     2. Did the remote rescue tubes dilute life-saving authorities long standing message: ‘Swim
        between the Flags?’
     3. Did the trial involve bystanders retrieving a rescue tube and flippers, securing the victim and
        bringing them to shore?
     4. Were rescues performed in varying surf conditions and at what distance from the shore?
     5. Who performed the rescues that occurred - off duty lifesavers, lifeguards, surfers or others?
     6. How many rescues were performed by random individuals and were those individuals
        strong swimmers?
     7. Did the rescuer perform the rescue alone or with assistance from others?
     8. Did the availability of a rescue tube embolden individuals to attempt the rescue when they
        might otherwise have stayed out of the surf?