Water safety, drink driving and marine compliance have been under the spotlight in recent weeks in a joint operation being conducted by Noosa Police, Maritime Safety Queensland and the Public Safety Business Agency.
Noosa Heads senior sergeant Ben Carroll said during the June school holidays 12 officers from QPS, MSQ and the Public Safety Business Agency conducted operations utilising four vessels and additional jet skis.
“Officers included marine mechanics, marine surveyors, MSQ and police officers working in a joint agency response,” he said.
“193 vessels were intercepted with 23 marine infringement notices issued for a variety of offences. Eleven formal warnings were issued”.
The operation found some boat operators were in breach of rules when marine mechanics determined their outboard motor’s horse power did not correspond to the engine cowl and some vessels that were intercepted had outdated, insufficient or faulty safety equipment resulting in infringements.
Noosa Police and Maritime Safety Queensland conducted patrols of the Noosa River and waterways last weekend. They stopped 17 vessels with 28 people on board.
“Police are continuing to record intelligence of vessel operators, particularly juvenile operators, and have records of all prior interactions including warnings and infringements,” snr sgt Carroll said.
“The joint operations will expand into the Noosa World Surfing Reserve to target a number of complaints received around the unsafe operation of jet skis around surfers and swimmers.”
Police have received video evidence from members of the public which have been used in evidence of offences committed by adults and youth in the canal systems and river and have thanked the community for their support.
“The operations are ongoing and planning is already underway to target the September and Christmas School Holiday period through to Australia Day 2021,” snr sgt Carroll said.
