By PAUL MILLAR
WATER police will have strike teams on standby at Queenscliff to crack down on bay hoons over the busy summer period.
Acting Sergeant Anthony Rietveld said police would cover all bases but would make their presence felt in hot spots like Ocean Grove and the Barwon River estauary.
“If we have any issues we’ll have response teams available,” he said.
Act Sgt Rietveld warned that police on jet skis would monitor speed on the water, with jet-skiers exceeding a five-knot limit among swimmers and within 200m of shore punished.
“Police will be out there and if you do the wrong thing you can expect to be spoken to.”
Act Sgt Rietveld urged recreational boaters to make sure they had appropriate safety equipment on board, including up-to-date flares, life jackets and fire extinguishers.
“And remember alcohol and boats do not mix.”
Police urged greater care on the water after an increase in fatalities last summer.
Nine people died in marine-related incidents between September 2013 and April 2014 – up five on the year before.
Water Police Senior Sergeant Mark O’Rourke said the most common causes were drownings and vessel collisions.
“Last summer was a particularly bad season with nine lives claimed on the water, six of these occurred in January alone. We also had 16 serious injuries caused by marine incidents,” Sen Sgt O’Rourke said.
“Summer is officially here and we know there’ll be more people using the waterways for recreational purposes.
“We’re concerned that people aren’t taking the right precautions when getting involved in water activities.
“Fatal or serious incidents don’t just happen in open water or out in the bays; things can easily go wrong in any type of water including lakes, inlets, rivers and basins.
“Everyone has the responsibility to put their safety first.”
