Originally published on Joshua Dowling’s Watercraft Zone, New South Wales recently went on another COVID-19 lockdown and this time the rules for residents not only applied to home life; they carried over to the water as well. Residents are required to stay within 5 or 10 km from home, depending what area of Sydney they reside. These guidelines apply to boating and PWC and are subject to change based on outbreaks.
NSW Police fined recreational boaters who traveled from a Sydney C-19 hotspot to an area about 40 km offshore to go fishing. Authorities have stated that public health order distance limits still apply even when on the water. They have provided a website for residents to check distances from their home addresses. Boaters had questions about exceptions for different types of transport.
The NSW Police Marine Area Command had this to say about exceptions: “There are no special provisions for motorbikes…doesn’t matter if you’re in a boat, on a bike, walking, running, skateboarding, or doing backflips…10km is 10km.”
When asked about getting permission to get a moored vessel serviced, the NSW Police command said: “Case by case basis, but for a recreational vessel, initially no. You need to ask yourself does it have to be done today or is it something that can wait a few weeks. If it’s urgent-i.e., your vessel will sink-then there’s other provisions (such as) calling us, Maritime, Marine Rescue, local marinas.”
Australia , reverting back to the days it was a penial Colony
Coming to the rest of the world if you don’t wake up
Agreed. What does offshore fishing have to do with spreading Covid? They should arrest themselves for stupidity.