By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
AN INTERAGENCY report assessing safety risks at Lysterfield Lake was released this week, almost two years after a five-year-old boy drowned at the site.
Casey Council and Parks Victoria funded the Life Saving Victoria report to identify hazards at the lake and suggest safety measures, which comes after three reported drownings at Lysterfield Lake since 1 July 2000, according to LSV statistics.
Representatives met on Tuesday morning to officially launch the Lysterfield Lake Aquatic Risk Assessment report, including Parks Victoria district manager Libby Jude, Casey Police Inspector Paul Breen, and Casey councillor Louise Berkelmans, who has been very vocal on the issue.
Already Parks Victoria has installed high-visibility ‘no swimming’ buoys in the no-swimming zones, and well as increased signage and alterations to previous signage to delineate between the lake’s swimming areas and boating areas.
Casey mayor Sam Aziz said precautions needed to be put in place to ensure the lake was no longer “marred by tragedy”.
“The interagency partnership was formed out of a desire to work together to reduce the chances of another person drowning,” he said.
“It’s been vital we work together and seeing the success of what has been achieved so far from this partnership has been really encouraging.
“Safety around water is not just the responsibility of the park manager or the council.
“It’s up to all of us to ensure we are all aware of the inherent dangers around our magnificent lakes and swimming pools and to ensure that we all take the right precautions to ensure an enjoyable day by the water isn’t marred by tragedy”.
A five-year-old Rowville boy drowned at Lysterfield Lake on 2 February, 2014, despite paramedics’ best efforts to resuscitate the child for up to an hour.
He was reported missing to police and was located in the lake soon after by his father.
It was the second drowning at the lake in just over a year.
In January 2013, a Cranbourne West man drowned at the site while trying to rescue two children who had been using a dinghy.
The children made it back to shore unharmed.
Inspector Paul Breen said Victoria Police had increased patrols at Lysterfield Park since the tragedies and indicated these would continue.
“Now we urge the public to do their part and make responsible decisions so everyone can enjoy the lake at Lysterfield Park without incident this summer,” he said.
The Lysterfield Lake Aquatic Risk Assessment report is available on Parks Victoria’s website, at www.parks.vic.go.au, or call 131 963.
