General News
27 March, 2024
Water safety encouraged this weekend
With Victorians preparing for Easter and the school holidays, Goulburn-Murray Water (GMW) is advising people to plan ahead and stay safe when visiting the region’s lakes, dams and waterways. During the Easter long weekend GMW’s storages have...
With Victorians preparing for Easter and the school holidays, Goulburn-Murray Water (GMW) is advising people to plan ahead and stay safe when visiting the region’s lakes, dams and waterways.
During the Easter long weekend GMW’s storages have been known to attract between 30,000 to 50,000 visitors — and with GMW’s storages relatively full once again, visitation numbers are likely to be high once more.
“Take a mate, wear a life jacket, stick to speed limits, and don’t drive while under the influence,” GMW recreation and land officer Chris Braden said.
“Be sure to also check the conditions and once you’re on the water, be cautious of hazardsthat may be partially or fully submerged.
“All these actions are fairly simple but taking them will dramatically improve the liklihood your trip will be safe and incident-free.”
While boating is permitted in most of GMW’s storages, several of their storages include areas that are restricted to vessels and motors.
Aquatics and Recreation Victoria’s VICSWIM Programs aim to not only teach children how to swim but also educate them on the dangers of water and water safety in different conditions.
Deb Gordis, one of the program’s swimming teachers explained how valuable these programs are.
“We start each session by asking the kids ‘what’s different to yesterday’, to get them in a habit of observing conditions,” she said.
“When you swim at a lake, there are no lifeguards, so we always tell the parents they need to keep an eye on their children at all times. Lifejackets and vital, because even if someone is a greats swimmer, there are hazards beneath the surface they can get caught on.”
For more information on the rules and recreational offerings visit the water corporation’s website: www.g-mwater.com.au/storages/