Feasibility of Identifying Family Friendly Beaches along Victoria

121 Pages·2003·1.68 MB·English

Feasibility of Identifying
Family Friendly Beaches
along Victoria’s Coastline

December 2002
Funded by Sport and Recreation Victoria

IDENTIFYING FAMILY FRIENDLY BEACHES i
ii
Feasibility of Identifying
Family Friendly Beaches
along Victoria’s Coastline
Carolyn Staines
Joan Ozanne-Smith
December 2002
Accident Research Centre
Monash University
Funded by
Sport and Recreation Victoria
Photography & layout:
Carolyn Staines
IDENTIFYING FAMILY FRIENDLY BEACHES iii
iv
Contents

Summary
......................................................................................................................................................1
Key Findings & Recommendations
..........................................................................................5
1 The concept “Family Friendly Beach”.........................................................................6
2 Funding.................................................................................................................................6
3 Beach user factors..............................................................................................................7
4 Mode of delivery................................................................................................................8
5 Blue flag program..............................................................................................................8
6 Prevention.............................................................................................................................9
7 Management of beaches...................................................................................................9
8 Identification of watercraft hazards..............................................................................10
9 Additional research needs................................................................................................10
10 Next step...............................................................................................................................10

1. Introduction
.................................................................................................................................11
1.1 AIM ...................................................................................................................................13
1.2 OUTLINE OF PROCESS...............................................................................................13
1.2.1 Involvement of stakeholders.............................................................................13
1.2.2 Researching the main issues.............................................................................13
1.2.3 Data analyses.........................................................................................................14

2. Evaluation Of “Family Friendly Beach” Concept.....................................15
2.1 “FAMILY FRIENDLY”..................................................................................................16
2.2 LIABILITY..........................................................................................................................16
2.3 SCOPE..................................................................................................................................17
2.4 MANAGEMENT TOOL.................................................................................................17

3. Management Of Victorian Beaches............................................................................19
3.1 MANAGEMENT .............................................................................................................20
3.2 REGULATION...................................................................................................................21
3.3 COASTAL POPULATION............................................................................................21
3.4 COASTAL POLICY.........................................................................................................21
3.5 THE VISION.......................................................................................................................21
3.6 FUNDING OF BEACH DEVELOPMENT...............................................................22
3.7 CO-ORDINATION OF AGENCIES...........................................................................23
3.8 IMPACT ON LOCAL COMMUNITIES...................................................................23

4. Levels Of Service Framework........................................................................................25
4.1 PARKS VICTORIA MODEL........................................................................................26
4.1.1 Background............................................................................................................26
4.1.2 Parks Victoria process........................................................................................27
4.2 LOS AS A MANAGEMENT TOOL...........................................................................30
4.3 ESTABLISHMENT OF BEACH LOS SYSTEM...................................................31

5. Central Database Of Beach Information................................................................33
5.1 AUSTRALIAN BEACH SAFETY & MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.............34
IDENTIFYING FAMILY FRIENDLY BEACHES v
6. Beach User Preferences........................................................................................................37
6.1 INTERNATIONAL STUDIES......................................................................................38
6.2 VICTORIAN STUDIES...................................................................................................39
6.3 NEED FOR RESESARCH AT VICTORIAN BEACHES....................................41
6.4 INFLUENCES ON CHOICE OF BEACH.................................................................42

7. Hazards At Victorian Beaches
........................................................................................43
7.1 IDENTIFICATION OF HAZARDS.............................................................................44
7.1.1 Injury data...............................................................................................................44
7.1.2 Crime statistics......................................................................................................47
7.1.3 Beach visitation rates...........................................................................................48
7.2 ENVIRONMENTAL BEACH HAZARDS...............................................................48
7.2.1 Hazards in the water............................................................................................49
7.2.2 Hazards on land.....................................................................................................53
7.3 OTHER RISK FACTORS...............................................................................................58
7.4 BEACH TYPES AND HAZARD RATINGS...........................................................59
7.4.1 Beach types............................................................................................................59
7.4.2 Hazard ratings........................................................................................................60
7.5 MONITORING OF HAZARDS....................................................................................61

8. Prevention Measures
..............................................................................................................63
8.6.1 Main factors and prevention measures...........................................................64
8.6.2 Beach safety audits..............................................................................................64
8.6.3 Life saving patrols................................................................................................65
8.6.4 Public awareness and education programs ..................................................65
8.6.5 Signage....................................................................................................................66
8.6.6 Litter management and beach cleaning..........................................................66
8.6.7 Barriers....................................................................................................................67
8.6.8 Beach closure.........................................................................................................68
8.6.9 Crime prevention plans.......................................................................................68
8.6.10 Crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) ...................68
8.6.11 New technologies.................................................................................................69

9. Beach Information Strategies
..........................................................................................73
9.1 COMPETITIONS...............................................................................................................74
9.2 BEACH GUIDES...............................................................................................................74
9.2.1 Review of beach guides......................................................................................75
9.2.2 Need for Victorian beach guide........................................................................78
9.3 RATING SCHEMES........................................................................................................78
9.3.1 Australian beach rating system.........................................................................79
9.3.2 International beach rating systems..................................................................79
9.3 ACCREDITATION AND AWARD SCHEMES.....................................................80
9.4.1 Review of award schemes..................................................................................81
9.4.2 Limitations of awards..........................................................................................82
9.4.3 Blue Flag in Australia.........................................................................................83

vi
10. Beach Attributes.......................................................................................................................85
10.1 CONTEXT OF BEACH USE........................................................................................86
10.2 WHICH ATTRIBUTES?.................................................................................................86
10.3 DEVELOPING CRITERIA FOR “HIGHER LEVEL OF SAFETY”
BEACH.................................................................................................................................88

11. References ...................................................................................................................................89

12. Appendices ...................................................................................................................................91
1. Members Of Working Group..........................................................................................92
2. Additional Agencies And Individuals Consulted.....................................................93
3. Hospital Emergency Department Presentations........................................................94
4. Royal Life Saving Victoria Incident Data...................................................................97
5. Victorian Admitted Episodes Dataset..........................................................................98
6. Surf Life Saving Victoria Incident Reports................................................................99
7. Victoria Police Incident Statistics.................................................................................101
8. Death Occurring At Beach Locations In Victoria....................................................105
9. Infrastructure And Requirements For A Beach To Be
Classed As Family Friendly.............................................................................................107

Acknowledgments 111
.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................

IDENTIFYING FAMILY FRIENDLY BEACHES vii
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Summary

IDENTIFYING FAMILY FRIENDLY BEACHES 1
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