Acting Victoria Premier Peter Ryan

Victorians Warned About Water Safety This Summer

Victor P Taffa

Acting Premier Peter Ryan today urged Victorians to behave responsibly and take care while using all manner of water craft during the summer holiday period.

Mr. Ryan said the Victoria Police Water Police Squad would be out in force to ensure all recreational and commercial vessels were properly equipped with safety gear, registered and operating within marine laws and regulations.

“Boating is a popular past-time for many Victorians and we want to ensure people take care and operate vessels with safety in mind and abide by the laws so everyone can enjoy the waterways.” Mr. Ryan said.

“We are lucky in Victoria to have a host of locations for recreational water activities and in some, such as Port Phillip Bay, there are commercial operations too.”

“Water Police will be patrolling Port Phillip and Western Port Bays as well as other waterways throughout Victoria to provide a 24-hour response service, but you can ensure they aren’t called to an emergency by preparing well and obeying the laws.”

“Under hoon boating laws, Police have the power to issue an embargo notice and affix it to the vessel to prohibit use of the boat for 48 hours and can immobilise and seize vessels as well as seeking their forfeiture for second and subsequent offences.”

Mr. Ryan said the Water Police and the Search and Rescue squads were based at a state-of -the-art coordination centre at Williamstown, but covered all corners of the state.

Water Police have a number of strategies in place to ensure people’s safety on the water this summer including the below strategies:

• Rescue Command centre will be staffed 24/7

• Dedicated marine coordinator for every shift

• Melbourne Port security patrols 24/7

• Geelong, Portland and Hastings Port security and routine patrols;

• Concerted efforts at the Patterson River boat ramp (largest in Victoria)

• Patrols in waterways in north east Victoria (Lake Eildon and Hume)

• Dedicated patrols in Gippsland covering Lakes Entrance to Gabo Island

“In addition to these strategies, there will be two fully equipped strike teams deployed to rural gazetted waterways, such as Pikes Creek and Lake Eppalock.” Mr. Ryan said.