SWIMMERS and fishers will have to read the words “weirs kill” before they step closer to a trap in Dubbo’s river.
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Dubbo City Council this week ramped up its efforts to stop people drowning at the South Dubbo weir.
It installed three large signs above and below the popular destination.
A young man died at the weir eight weeks ago but at first Dubbo mayor Mathew Dickerson said the council would await a report from the Coroner before it took any safety measures.
The council’s inertia ended yesterday, as Cr Dickerson announced “thought-provoking signage” had been installed.
In fact, the signs bore a stark message for visitors to a place where “swimming skills (had) little to do with survival”.
“With summer now on our doorstep, the new signage provides additional warnings about the dangers that weirs pose to personal safety,” Cr Dickerson said.
“We are hoping the signs will challenge people to stop and think before fishing, swimming or boating at or near the weir.”
The mayor reiterated that rivers were dangerous places, a point the community made recently.
“In the period 1980 to 2011, 18 drownings have tragically occurred at various locations along the Macquarie River within the Dubbo Local Government Area, two of which have been at the South Dubbo weir,” Cr Dickerson said. “Drowning by entrapment in submerged logs or snags, or drowning by falling into the river while fishing, are just some examples of the dangers that rivers in general present.”
The mayor reminded people that weirs were “dangerous and unpredictable” places, where the depth, volume and speed of water could vary.
“Many people don’t realise what’s happening beneath the water,” he said.
“At the bottom of the weir for example, the water is extremely turbulent and induces a strong undertow current that will force swimmers down.
“In this situation swimming skills have little to do with survival.”
Cr Dickerson said the council had taken steps to find a balanced and reasonable response to safety at the South Dubbo weir.
“While there is no practical way to stop people approaching the weir from within the river downstream and upstream, or from riverbanks immediately abutting the weir, council has introduced a number of other safety measures including steel fan barriers, a canoe portage around the weir and numerous warning signs,” he said.
James Kennedy, 19, died at the weir on October 30.
The structure had already claimed the life of Josh MacFarlane, 15, in 2008.
