Lifejackets a must on coastal bars.
New rules apply from 1 October regarding lifejackets and bar crossings.
It is now compulsory for everyone on board a recreational boat to wear a
Type 1 lifejacket when crossing the coastal surf bars in NSW. Failure to
comply may result in an on-the-spot fine of $200.
26/09/03: NSW Minister for Transport Services Michael Costa will
today announce new on-the-spot fines for anyone not wearing a life jacket
when crossing coastal surf bars.
Mr Costa said the new fine would come into effect on 1 October and was
aimed at improving safety for the 475,000 recreational boating license
holders and their passengers in NSW.
Under previous regulations, recreational boaters only needed to carry
a life jacket on-board their boat when crossing a bar.
Mr Costa said the changes to regulations under the Maritime Services
Act meant:
It will be compulsory to wear a life-jacket on board any vessel crossing
a coastal surf bar; and
Offenders face on-the-spot fines of $200. “There have been 90 reported
incidents like boats capsizing, and 8 fatalities on NSW bars since 1999,”
Mr Costa said.
“Narooma Bar on the South Coast is especially dangerous with 6 fatalities
there since 1992.”
The new rules will apply where estuaries, streams and rivers run into
the sea.
The announcement coincides with Water Safety Week, to increase water
safety awareness in the lead up to summer.
Mr Costa said the new regulations followed an education campaign to encourage
recreational boaters to use jackets.
“More than 90 per cent of boats are now equipped with sufficient
jackets, but not all are being worn,” he said.
“Surf bars are dangerous and unpredictable boating environments.
“One death on our waterways is one too many.
“That’s why we are strengthening the rules to protect recreational
boat users.”
The Waterways Authority is developing a new compliance and education
campaign including new movable electronic signage boards.
The boards will carry messages and safety advice at key boat launch sites
across NSW this summer.
List of Coastal Bars in NSW
|
Bellinger
River |
Located near the town
of Urunga in the vicinity
of the confluence of
the Bellinger and Kalang
Rivers and the Tasman
Sea. |
|
Brunswick
River |
Located near the town
of Brunswick Heads in
the vicinity of the
confluence of the Brunswick
River with the Coral
Sea. |
|
Camden
Haven River |
Located near the town
of North Haven in the
vicinity of the confluence
of the Camden Haven
Inlet with the Tasman
Sea. |
|
Cape
Hawke Harbour |
Located near the towns
of Forster-Tuncurry
in the vicinity of the
confluence of Cape Hawke
Harbour with the Tasman
Sea. |
|
Clarence
River |
Located near the town
of Yamba in the vicinity
of the confluence of
the Clarence River with
the Coral Sea. |
|
Corindi River
|
Located near the town
of Red Rock in the vicinity
of the confluence of
the Corindi River with
the Tasman Sea. |
|
Cudgen Creek
|
Located near the town
of Kingscliff in the
vicinity of the confluence
of Cudgen Creek with
the Coral Sea. |
| Cudgera Creek |
Located
near the town of Hastings
Point in the vicinity
of the confluence of Cudgera
Creek with the Coral Sea. |
|
Evans River
|
Located near the town
of Evans Head in the
vicinity of the confluence
of the Evans River with
the Coral Sea. |
|
Hastings River
|
Located near the town
of Port Macquarie in
the vicinity of the
confluence of the Hastings
River with the Tasman
Sea. |
|
Killick Creek
|
Located near the town
of Crescent Head in
the vicinity of the
confluence of Killick
Creek with the Tasman
Sea. |
|
Korogoro Creek
|
Located near the town
of Hat Head in the vicinity
of the confluence of
Korogoro Creek with
the Tasman Sea. |
|
Macleay River
|
Located near the town
of South West Rocks
in the vicinity of the
confluence of the Macleay
River with the Tasman
Sea. |
|
Manning River
|
Located near the town
of Harrington in the
vicinity of the confluence
of the Manning River
with the Tasman Sea. |
|
Manning River
|
Located
near the town of Old
Bar in the vicinity
of the confluence of
Farquhar Inlet with
the Tasman Sea. |
|
Mooball Creek
|
Located
near the town of Pottsville
in the vicinity of the
confluence of Mooball
Creek with the Coral
Sea. |
|
Nambucca River
|
Located
near the town of Nambucca
Heads in the vicinity
of the confluence of
the Nambucca River with
the Tasman Sea. |
|
Richmond River
|
Located
near the town of East
Ballina in the vicinity
of the confluence of
the Richmond River with
the Coral Sea. |
|
Sandon River
|
Located
near the town of Sandon
in the vicinity of the
confluence of the Sandon
River with the Coral
Sea. |
|
South
West Rocks Creek |
Located near the town of South West Rocks in the vicinity of the
South West Rocks Creek and the Tasman Sea.
|
|
Tweed River
|
Located
near the town of Tweed
Heads in the vicinity
of the confluence of
the Tweed River with
the Coral Sea. |
|
Wooli River
|
Located near the town of Wooli in the vicinity of the confluence
of the Wooli River with the Coral Sea.
|
|
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