WIMMERA police took to the water at the weekend to urge residents to be safe this summer. Horsham Sergeant Rob McBride said the operation was a joint venture with Water Police and Fisheries Victoria.
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He said the operation ran from Friday to Sunday and was focused on safety and education, as well as enforcement.
“During their visit Water Police provided recreation boat operators with information to comply with the Marine Safety Act,” he said.
“Water Police were impressed by the appropriate boating behaviour they witnessed.
“Warnings were given for minor offences, with one infringement notice issued.
“Horsham police want to commend the Wimmera people for their safe approach to recreational boating.”
Sergeant McBride said Water Police patrolled Green Lake, Lake Natimuk, Lake Ratzcastle, Lake Wallace, Lake Bringalbert, Lake Charlegrark, the Wimmera River, Dimboola, Taylors Lake, Toolondo Lake, Rocklands Reservoir, Lake Lonsdale and Lake Fyans.
He said more operations with Water Police and fisheries would start in the near future, where enforcement of laws would be applied.
Fisheries Victoria senior fisheries officer Jason Peters said there was a 98 per cent compliance rate over the weekend, with only a couple of people caught doing the wrong thing.
“Despite a hot weekend it didn’t slow people down,” he said.
“People were out early to beat the heat and seemed to have a good understanding of the rules and regulations.”