Released 06/01/2017
With hot summer days upon us, Canberrans and visitors are reminded to stay safe when swimming in the Territory’s superb waterways.
“There are many great swimming spots for people to cool off along the Murrumbidgee River Corridor including Uriarra Crossing, Casuarina Sands, Kambah Pool, the Tharwa Sandwash, Pine Island and
Cotter Bend,” Brett McNamara, Regional Manager, National Parks and Catchments said today.
“The banks of Gibraltar Creek in Woods Reserve are also a popular spot for camping, picnics and a dip in the water to cool off however, we strongly advise against people accessing the cliff edge area of
Gibraltar Falls as a recreational swimming spot. Clear warning signs and infrastructure, such as the new viewing platform balustrade, galvanized stair well and hand rail, are in place to discourage access to the cliff edge.
“When visiting swimming spots along the Murrumbidgee River it is important to remember the risks of being in and around water. Signage is available along the banks of these popular waterways to help people understand the risks associated with swimming in rivers, to make informed decisions and to keep them from getting into a dangerous situation.
“People should not be afraid of the water, but should be aware of a few simple precautions they should take to stay safe such as:
- never dive into water if you are unsure of the depth
- keep an eye out for submerged logs, other hazards and wildlife
- watch the flow of the water – flowing water is stronger than you think
- never drink alcohol and swim.
“In addition, children should never be left unsupervised or in the care of older children and should be within a safe distance at all times. Supervising adults should be appropriately dressed to enter the water at all times and be confident swimmers in the event they need to jump in and perform a rescue. It is also important for supervising adults to know how to perform CPR.
“Similar safety precautions also need to be taken when using backyard and public pools. In the ACT the home swimming pool is the most common location for drowning death and injury of children under the age of five.
“The ACT Government is committed to increasing the safety of children around backyard swimming pools which is why we are running a new safety campaign throughout summer that calls on all people who own or live near a pool to be a backyard lifeguard; because the more backyard lifeguards we have, the more children in our community we can keep safe.
“Being a backyard lifeguard means actively supervising children and around the pool at all times; knowing how to perform CPR; teaching kids to swim and be safe around pools; checking pool barriers meet current standards; keeping pool barriers clear of objects and plants that kids can use to climb into the pool area; and ensuring the pool gate is shut at all times.
“As a community we are all responsible for safety around pools and together we can reduce the risk of children drowning in swimming pools in the ACT.”
For more information about swimming spots in Canberra visit www.environment.act.gov.au. More information about swimming pool safety and how to be a backyard lifeguard is available at www.act.gov.au/backyardlifeguard
- Statement ends -
ACT Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate | Media Releases
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