Regional Strategy

Neighbouring Councils are working towards together including the development of a Cross Council Water Safety Drowning Prevention Strategy,
which will help shape a localised Mornington Peninsula Plan devised by the local working group, the first of its kind in Victoria.

This regional collaboration sees Mornington Peninsula Shire and Bass Coast Shire partner together, whilst being supported by City of Casey, Cardina Shire Council and Greater Dandenong Council with many visitors to these regions from these local government areas. Between 2014/15 and 2023/24, there were 100 drowning fatalities within the combined LGAs of Bass Coast, Mornington Peninsula, City of Casey, Cardinia and Greater Dandenong equating to 21 per cent of all Victorian drownings.

Life Saving Victoria were engaged by this Regional Cross Council working group as part of their suite of action to address the ongoing high numbers of drowning fatalities recorded within the cross-council region and also involving local residents. The intention of this Framework is to provide an overview of the drowning incidents that have been recorded in these local government areas (LGAs) over the past decade and guide the water safety and drowning prevention efforts across this combined region to address the trends and risk factors.

On Wednesday 5 March 2025 at Portsea Life Saving Club, Bass Coast Shire and Mornington Peninsula Shire Council launched the Bass Coast and Mornington Peninsula Cross Council Water Safety Framework alongside Life Saving Victoria, partner Councils and key agency representatives, including the Play it Safe by the Water Committee. 

This Victoria-first initiative aimed in tackling drownings on the Mornington Peninsula and Bass Coast brings together new research with best practice drowning prevention strategies to make our coastal regions safer for both residents and visitors, with a strong focus on engagement with culturally and linguistically diverse communities. 
he framework provides an overview of drowning incidents in the regions over the past decade as well as new research and will guide water safety and drowning prevention efforts to address key trends and risk factors.  

With both LGA’s recognised as drowning blackspots in Victoria, this collaboration supports an integrated approach across coastal and southeast metro Councils with a focus on community capacity building, advocacy and infrastructure improvements to reduce drowning incidents on our beaches. 

Bass Coast Shire, Mornington Peninsula Shire, Casey, Cardinia and Greater Dandenong Councils are collaborating to reduce the high number of fatal and non-fatal drownings. Supporting this collaboration is Life Saving Victoria, Belgravia Leisure, local land managers and emergency response agencies who are forming local working groups to enhance drowning prevention efforts by improving water safety awareness and education, delivering consistent messaging and innovative programs. 

To learn more about the Regional Water Safety Framework and our Mornington Peninsula Shire’s commitment to keeping communities safe in and around the water, view here.

Three key areas were identified to build the strategies framework.