NSW Police, together with Transport for NSW, are urging residents to plan ahead and to expect a different holiday experience during the summer months, as they launch the western phase of their summer-safety campaign.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Operation Summer Safe is a high-visibility operation which commenced in Western Region on Sunday to increase community engagement with the public during summer months in regional NSW.
The operation will which will run until the end of summer in February 2021, will focus on policing licensed premises, public spaces and entertainment precincts to decrease anti-social behaviour and alcohol-related violence.
READ ALSO:
It also aims to ensure adherence to current Public Health Orders and increased messaging about safety when using our inland waterways.
Police will be assisted by NSW Maritime Boating Safety Officers to ensure recreational boaters on the region's waterways are complying with safety requirements.
Western Region Commander, Assistant Commissioner Geoff McKechnie said police are ready for the influx of visitors to western NSW in the coming months.
"Western region is a playground for holiday goers and recreational hunting enthusiasts during the summer months and we know from previous years that our region's unique attractions draw in visitors from all over the state," he said.
"With that comes increased risks associated with the use of our inland waterways, hunting grounds and rural roads.
Assistant Commissioner McKechnie urged the public to comply with the current Public Health Orders and move through this phase of the pandemic by working with police, not against them.
"We want people to enjoy themselves and everything that our region has to offer, but in a responsible and considerate manner," he said.
NSW Maritime is currently applying zero tolerance to boating safety breaches, such as failing to wear or carry life jackets, speeding, unsafe towing activities and personal watercraft offences.
NSW Maritime Executive Director Mark Hutchings said the approach aimed to drive down unsafe behaviour and save lives on NSW waterways.
"Boating on an inland waterway is very different to boating on the coast. Regardless, boaters should always be aware of on-water conditions and avoid taking unnecessary risks," he said.
"NSW Maritime is asking boaters heading out over summer to keep in mind there may be submerged and semi-submerged hazards such as trees and branches in dams and rivers and to travel at a speed that is safe for the conditions."
Mr Hutchings said there have been seven boating fatalities on NSW waterways since July 1, 2020.
"While a considerable number of people have continued to boat through the winter months, particularly with COVID-19 keeping people close to home, there is always a group of boaters who pack their vessels away in April and head out for the first time in October," he said.
"We want to make sure boaters before heading out checking fuel lines, replacing old batteries, and safety equipment as well as following the relevant boating rules which exist to keep us all safe while on the water."
Mr Hutchings said safety equipment must be in good working order and easily accessible for everyone onboard in order to save lives when they're needed.
"Carrying, maintaining and checking equipment such as EPIRBs, flares and torches and ensuring that inflatable lifejackets have been serviced within the last 12 months, or in accordance with manufacturer's requirements, is essential," Mr Hutchings said.
Road safety will also be a focus of Operation Summer Safe, with Traffic and Highway Patrol officers to assist police districts with targeting speeding, drink and drug driving, driving while fatigued, mobile phone and other traffic offences.