Ballarat residents are 54 per cent more likely to die from drowning than the average Victorian according to the Life Saving Victoria Drowning report. 

Key researcher Bernadette Matthews said only three out of five Victorian children could swim at an acceptable level. 

Ten people, including 9 Ballarat residents, died from drowning in the region between 2005-15, the Life Saving Victoria Drowning Report 2015-16 states.

There is a 60 per cent chance a person will die from drowning each year in the area. 

A further 19 Ballarat residents were hospitalised due to non-fatal drowning and 16 people presented to the emergency department in relation to a non-fatal drowning. 

The most common places for drowning in Ballarat were lakes, dams, bathtubs, swimming areas and walking paths near water. 

“Particularly in the Ballarat area, the other key location for drowning incidents is in bathtubs, remember anywhere around water you need to be aware of safety particularly with young children,” Dr Matthews said.

Dr Matthews said child supervision was also extremely important around water, with children aged up to four-years-old accounting for 20 per cent of the deaths in Ballarat over the past decade.

“Please ensure children under the age of 5 are within arms’ reach at all times,’’ Dr Matthews said.

“Remember 20 seconds is all it takes for a child to drown.’’

Dr Matthews said young children could drown in shallow puddles and stressed the importance of familiarising young people with water.

“For young people it’s really important to take water familiarisation classes, as they get older to take them to swimming and water safety classes,” Dr Matthews said.

“But remember, swimming lessons won’t drown-proof your child.”

Victoria’s drowning rate has decreased by 43 per cent since the Play it Safe by the Water program launched.