Regional councils from Geraldton to the South Australian border can now apply for Beach Emergency Numbers (BEN) signage to give beachgoers vital location information for people to provide to emergency services when responding to serious incidents.
The BEN signs are part of the WA Government’s election commitment to strengthen emergency measures, following the fatal shark bite incident at Falcon in 2016 that claimed the life of Ben Gerring.
Mr Gerring’s brother Rick put forward the idea after concerns about possible delays in attending emergency services trying to locate the closest beach access point to the incident.
The locations of the uniquely coded signs will be recorded with emergency services and also include the street address and nearest cross street.
The WA Government will provide funding of up to $50,000 for regional councils to install the BEN signage system.
The responsibility for erecting beach signage rests with the relevant local government authority or land manager. For State Government land in coastal areas and marine parks, planning for the installation of the signs is also progressing with the support of the relevant agencies involved.