water activities management plan - …...sff18 water activities management plan (draft v1) 2...

WATER ACTIVITIES MANAGEMENT PLAN

Strawberry Fields Festival 15 November – 18 November 2018

Prepared by Strawberry Music Group Pty Ltd

ABN 50 139 653 348

Prepared for Berrigan Shire Council

DRAFT V2

© STRAWBERRY MUSIC GROUP PTY LTD

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SFF18 Water Activities Management Plan (Draft v1)

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DOCUMENT CONTROL

Date Author/Editor Action 1.05.2018 Jeff Moss Review of 2017 WMP & stakeholder notes 7.05.2018 Tara Benney Prepared first draft 22.05.2018 Tara Benney Updated to incorporate feedback from Roads

& Maritime Service – Maritime Operations & Compliance

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CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................4

PUBLICWATERACCESS......................................................................................................5

PROPOSEDVENUE.............................................................................................................6

PROPOSEDCONTROLS.......................................................................................................7

LIFEGUARDSERVICEPROVIDER.........................................................................................8

MEDICALSERVICES..........................................................................................................10

RISKMINIMIZATION........................................................................................................12

STAKEHOLDERLIAISON....................................................................................................14

EXTERNALASSISTANCE....................................................................................................15

REPORTS/DE-BRIEFS........................................................................................................16

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INTRODUCTION This document contains an overview of the plans, strategy details and processes applicable to the proposed management of water based recreational activities which are undertaken by participants in the Strawberry Fields Festival (“the Event”) to be held over the period 15 to 18 November 2018 inclusive. The Event is proposed to be held for the 8th successive year in the Berrigan Shire, attracting 8,000 patrons to a private land venue abutting the Murray River situated approximately east of Tocumwal (NSW) in the Berrigan Shire. Given the time of year, anticipated weather conditions and ready access to the Murray River, there exists a high potential that patrons will seek to engage in aquatic recreational activities including swimming. In order to minimize risk, festival management, in keeping with the principles of Emergency and Risk Management, have determined that it is safer to setup, regulate and manage a dedicated swimming space rather than prohibit swimming entirely. By allowing patrons some respite from the heat and access to the water in the day time under supervision of lifeguards, it is foreseen that there will be a dramatically reduced risk that patrons will seek to access the water from unsupervised locations or at night time. Festival organisers have committed to engage the same professional specialized lifeguard contractor used at the event for the past 3 years, to manage and supervise recreational aquatic activities by those attending the festival. In collaboration with the appointed service provider, this document has been developed for the purposes of:

a) identifying specific risks associated with these aquatic activities b) providing an assessment of that risk (where identified) is undertaken and c) recommending appropriate treatments to be developed and applied (where

practicable) to eliminate/reduce identified risk. Accordingly, this document titled “Water Activities Management Plan” has been prepared and provides details which refer specifically to the arrangements established to mitigate the risk of “drowning” or other related aquatic incident. Established arrangements for controlling (where possible) patron recreational use of the river and the planned response to (and management of) any incidents which might occur involving patron recreational use of the river, are also detailed within the plan. It should be noted that this plan must be read in conjunction with the festival “Emergency Management Plan”. Information relating to the management and response arrangements established for other “non-water” related incidents and emergencies including: Fire, Safety, Medical; Evacuation; Security & Public Order etc. are NOT covered in this document.

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PUBLIC WATER ACCESS Swimming and recreational use of the river by festival participants will be restricted to specified times during daylight hours only. Patrons will be directed to swim within a clearly defined/designated area only, this area will be marked by both signage, lighting and on event maps. The swimming area will be specifically selected to be the best available option within the venue, taking advantage of naturally formed beaches, absent of snags and utilising slower sections of current. The swimming area will be staffed 24/7 by professional lifeguards – details of this service, provided equipment, and operational controls detailed in following sections. “Out-of-hours” access to the aquatic area will be restricted by means of signage, physical barrier, flood lighting, and active patrolling by professional security personnel.

Example location shots – proposed venue & swimming area

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PROPOSED VENUE In 2018 the festival proposes to move to a new venue which will provide dramatically improved amenity to the venues used & approved by stakeholders for the past 7 years. The proposed venue features a naturally formed sandy beach, with a prolonged shallow walk in, on a bend in the Murray River with noticeably reduced currents.

Example location shot – proposed venue & swimming area

The Murray River at this location runs east to west with a variable current determined by water release upstream initiated by the relevant statutory water authority as part of the Murray-Darling Water Catchment Management Scheme. As at lodgement of this plan (June 2018) no observations had been made in respect to the river conditions due to the extensive “pre-event lead time” and the minimal value of observations made at this time relative to an event to be held in 6 months time. For the purposes of “operational planning” observations made during last years event (also in November) will be utilized with a condition review to be undertaken 2 – 3 weeks prior to the actual event dates. Anecdotal evidence continues to confirm that swimming and similar aquatic activities are undertaken at various locations in/around the festival venue by members of the general public on a regular basis and are assumed manageable by appropriate protocols.

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PROPOSED CONTROLS The total prohibition of participants from entering the river in pursuit of a break from the heat and individual aquatic recreation, is considered impractical and unachievable. Therefore, the establishment of appropriate controls designed to mitigate risk and professionally manage aquatic behaviour is preferred. These controls include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Appointment of a suitably qualified/experienced “professional” lifeguard service to:-

o Supervise access/behaviour within the designated swimming area.

o Provide an effective/timely response capability to those persons requiring assistance.

o Provide an effective/timely recovery capability where required.

o Working in harmony with the Medical and other Emergency Service resources provide a high level of treatment and care as required.

o Provide festival management (including the Event Emergency Management Group) with on-going risk management/assessment of aquatic recreational activities.

• Designation of a specific “controlled” swimming area. (to be visually delineated and access controlled “after-hours” using appropriate signage, physical barriers and other security resources).

• Establishment of “controlled” access times. (Daylight hours only)

• Provision of appropriate resources (both human and equipment) to effectively aid in the delivery of effective management of aquatic recreational activities. (equipment shall include the provision of motorized water craft (via lifeguard service), rescue boards and other lifesaving apparatus as deemed appropriate)

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LIFEGUARD SERVICE PROVIDER The specialized, “professional” lifeguard service successfully utilized during the 2015, 2016 & 2017 events have again been engaged to provide appropriate aquatic management, supervision, response and recovery services to the festival community for the duration of this the 2016 event. Lifeguarding Services Australia P/Ltd (“the Provider”) (a NSW company providing specialized aquatic and related emergency resources) under the direction of Stan Wall (Chief Lifeguard) will provide a team of highly experienced/qualified “professional” lifeguards and equipment (including motorized watercraft) to monitor and assist those festival patrons who seek to use the river for aquatic pursuits (ie: swimming etc.).

With over 30 years’ experience as a professional surf, open water and pool lifeguard and 18 years as an emergency officer with extensive aquatic, disaster and aviation rescue experience, Stan leads the field in aquatic event safety and risk management. He has personally managed the risk management of over 4,000 major events, including holding management positions for the logistic coordination and operations management of aquatic sports at the Sydney Aquatic Centre during the Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games. He is currently responsible for the provision of over 300 lifeguards across 37 venues in 3 states and holds a broad range of qualifications including:

- Advanced Diploma Business - Diploma of Quality Auditing - Diploma of Management - Diploma Vocational Training & Education - Diploma of Training Development & Design - Cert IV Public Safety (Aquatic Search & Rescue Management) - Cert IV Health Care (Ambulance) - Cert IV Rescue Medical Technician - Cert IV Work Health and Safety - Cert III Aviation (Rescue Crewman) - Cert III Public Safety (SES Rescue)

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STAFFING & EQUIPMENT All “Lifeguards” deployed to the event will be suitably qualified and experienced and hold minimum qualifications of Certificate III Public Safety (Aquatic Search & Rescue) in addition to various service and experiential awards. (Levels 1 and 2 APOLA or similar) Lifeguards operating motorized inflatable rescue boats or other similar watercraft will hold appropriate NSW Maritime Boating licences in addition to national competency qualifications for the operation of the craft. Equipment to be provided by the Lifeguard Service shall include: 2 x units Fully equipped lifeguard vehicles 1x units Motorized Inflatable Rescue Boat 2x units Ancillary Aquatic Rescue Equipment/Aids All operators of the rescue boat & ancillary aids will be suitably qualified. Staffing to be provided by the Lifeguard Service shall include: 4 qualified lifeguards On Shore duty (watch & respond) 2 qualified lifeguards Stationed on water in watercraft for live assistance

During “operating hours” the lifeguard service will ensure that there are at least 3 lifeguards “watching” those persons in the water. These personnel will have available various life-saving “response” aids (rescue boards etc.) to facilitate an immediate response to any person requiring assistance. In addition to the 2 x “on-shore” lifeguards, additional lifeguard/s will be stationed with the motorized watercraft either on the river or immediately opposite to also render assistance and assist with retrieval as required. This staffing ratio of 6 on duty lifeguards at all times has been estimated as a 1:80 swimmers ratio, although it is highly unlikely based on observations of patron swimming over the last 3 years, that there will be more than this number in the water at any time. All lifeguards will be in two-way radio contact with each other and the Emergency Coordination Centre all times. Life guards will have access to/work collaboratively with other “on-site” emergency services and personnel if required including Security, Medical etc. with access being facilitated via a dedicated “Emergency Services” radio network. Members of the Lifeguard Service will reside “on-site” for the duration of the event and will provide an “after-hours on-call” response capability which shall include the provision of motorized water-craft equipped for “night operations”.

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SIGNAGE The following examples show signage which will be installed throughout the beach & swimming area to ensure that patrons are aware of conditions and restrictions. The “No Swimming” signs will be deployed across the banks where no access is available, along with directional signs towards the designated swimming area.

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MEDICAL SERVICES Colbrow Medical (as the appointed Festival Medical Provider) will have established an “onsite” Festival Medical Centre which shall operate (24/7) for the duration of the festival event. The siting of the Festival Medical Centre shall be < 100 metres from the proposed swimming area. Staffing of the Medical Centre shall be as per the Medical providers “Operational Plan” and shall be sufficient to address any circumstance presented as a result of aquatic recreational pursuits undertaken by event participants. (Refer to Medical Plan for details of resources to be available). As an integral part of the Event Emergency Management Team, the Medical provider has been briefed in relation to the potential for aquatic activity and will incorporate provision of appropriate resources into the festival’s medical service plan and arrangements to cater for any injury etc. which may be the result from individual aquatic recreational pursuits.

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RISK MINIMIZATION As prevention is a key component to the Water Activities Management Plan, a number of preventative strategies are planned as an aide to minimizing the risk presented by individuals/groups participating in aquatic recreational activities or a related incident. In assessing risk, a number of factors have been taken into consideration and these include but are not limited to:

1 River access 2 Anticipated river levels, flow and characteristics at the time of the festival event 3 Presence of “snags” or other objects (including those submerged) along the river

bank 4 Familiarity of users with aquatic characteristics of location 5 Individual aquatic capabilities of users 6 Availability, response and intervention capabilities of local services

The table below details some of the Risks identified and the actions and strategies currently being proposed or taken to mitigate those risks.

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Table 1.1 Risk Analysis

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STAKEHOLDER LIAISON Lifeguarding Australia P/Ltd. will operate within its own “Operations Orders/Guidelines” but will form part of the festival “Emergency Management” Group under the co-ordination of the “Event Emergency Co-ordinator”. Liaison with other services including external statutory emergency services shall be in accordance with the protocols established in “Event Emergency Management Plan” and will be co-ordinated by the “Event Emergency Co-ordinator” – Mr Matthew Wood. Relevant contact details for stakeholder liaison can be found below.

Name Role Contact Stan Wall Chief Lifeguard [email protected]

Matthew Wood Event Emergency

Co-ordinator [email protected]

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EXTERNAL ASSISTANCE In the event of an incident occurring which requires resource assistance beyond the capability of the appointed “Lifeguard” service, such assistance will be requested via the Event Emergency Co-ordinator from the NSW Police in the first instance. Such requests will be made via the national “000” telephone service and may involve the Tocumwal/Cobram State Emergency Service units.

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REPORTS/DE-BRIEFS Any incidents arising from the pursuit of aquatic leisure activities will be subject to a report in accordance with Lifeguarding Australia’s established protocols/processes. A formal de-brief will be conducted within two (2) hours of any incident (unless emergency operations determine otherwise) and will involve those stakeholders with “statutory responsibility” (ie: Police, Ambulance, SES etc. and members of the festival Emergency Management Group as determined by the Event Emergency Co-ordinator.

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