Coronavirus Gold Coast: Boating restrictions still permit ‘essential’ travel and fishing for food

Boating has largely been barred amid widespread coronavirus restrictions, but there are a couple of exceptions.

THE State Government now says Gold Coast boaties can hit the water during coronavirus restrictions for “essential” travel or if they are catching fish for food.

It comes after Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) general manager Angus Mitchell said in a directive that recreational boating was not deemed a permitted activity.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey moved to clarify the situation.

“If you own a boat and want to head out in the water in your local community to fish for food this weekend, you can,” he said.

“If you need your boat to travel locally in your community, you can still do that.

“If you want to head out on your kayak or stand up paddle board for exercise, you still can.

“State Government boat ramps will remain open to boaties.

“We want people to continue living their lives as normally as possible under the current circumstances, but the advice of the Chief Health Officer needs to be followed.

“No one should be leaving their home unless it’s absolutely necessary.”

Federal Government directives limiting public gatherings to two people and halting travel except for essential purposes still apply.

Queensland Police and other agencies will enforce the restrictions. Picture: Nigel Hallett

“This isn’t a special rule to let people out on the water for non-essential reasons this weekend,” Mr Bailey said.

“There’s no reason for anyone to be taking the boat out unless it’s for essential travel to get to work, to and from your home, to local shops for provisions or catching fish for your family.

“Even then, there should be no more than two people, or immediate family members on board, and the social distancing rules everyone is being asked to follow still apply.

“Boaties should also be mindful of hygiene when putting boats in the water at public facilities.”

Mr Bailey warned the advice could change again “should tougher rules to limit public movements and interaction come in”.

Earlier, Mr Mitchell said: “While recreational boating within Queensland has not been specifically covered in government announcements as yet, it is clear that ever-tightening restrictions are being applied to limit the spread of COVID-19. Recreational boating will be affected.”

He said the Federal Government’s restrictions only allowed shopping for essentials, receiving medical care, exercising or travelling to work or for education, and that boating was not considered an essential activity.

Mr Mitchell said the only permitted circumstance “which might reasonably be considered to include recreational boating is that of physical exercise”.

Boats line the waterways of Runaway Bay. Picture: Nearmap

He said that would be interpreted as boating in a non-powered craft, but advised against non-essential movement.

MSQ, Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol and Queensland Police will enforce boating regulations and continue normal operations, while abiding by social distancing and hygiene requirements.