Corporate News

Be Beach Safe is the latest heavy-metal message in giant letters welcoming visitors to Torquay and the Surf Coast this summer.

Torquay Surf Life Saving Club and developer Villawood Properties have joined forces in a bid to prevent any summer mishaps along the Surf Coast.

The three-metre high corten messaging, along the Surf Coast Highway at Villawood’s Armstrong Mount Duneed, is aimed at raising awareness about the beach dangers for unwary swimmers.

Hundreds of Torquay SLSC volunteers are on patrol this summer to protect swimmers against trouble in the water. With tens of thousands of holiday-makers descending on Surf Coast beaches, the call to stay safe in the surf is a timely one.

The 2025 National Drowning Report 2025 recorded 357 drowning deaths over the past 12 months, a 27 per cent increase on the 10-year average.

Of these, 43 per cent of 154 occurred in coastal locations, including 82 drowning deaths at beaches.

“This summer we have more than 250 volunteer lifesavers rostered to keep our beach safe and fun for everybody,” Torquay SLSC president Matt Carmichael said.

“Since we were established in 1945, there has not been a single drowning on our patrolled beach – we’re proud of the service we provide to everyone who visits Torquay.

“We work hard, alongside our fellow lifesaving clubs and Lifesaving Victoria, to ensure that the only memories people take home from a summer in Torquay are happy ones.”

Villawood executive director Rory Costelloe, a keen swimmer and open-water kayaker, said people flocked to local beaches to have a great time and enjoy themselves.

“Ocean beaches like Torquay surf beach provide an experience unlike any other, but it’s important to remember that the combination of currents, waves and tides mean even experienced swimmers should pay attention to their surroundings.

“It’s important for visitors and families to stay between the red and yellow flags while on the beach. It makes the task of our lifesavers patrolling the beach more efficient and reduces the time it takes for them to get to you if you have any difficulty.”

For more details on staying safe in the water this summer follow Torquay Surf Life Saving Club on Facebook (Torquay SLSC) and Instagram (torquay_slsc).

Also keep up with detailed beach information from patrol status, facilities and hazards to weather, swell and tide with the Beachsafe app: https://beachsafe.org.au/apps