Elwood beach paddleboarder warned for breaching stay home restrictions
A lone paddleboarder was enjoying a quiet night on the water at Elwood beach when he was interrupted by water police, who issued him with a warning for breaching the state’s stage three restrictions.
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A man has been slapped with a warning by police for paddleboarding in the water off Elwood beach.
The man, who is understood to be a doctor, was told he was breaching the government’s stay at home directive and was escorted to the shore at about 5.30pm on Monday by police who were patrolling the water.
A witness, who wished not to be named, revealed that although there were also swimmers in the water, the man - who paddled out shortly after 5pm - was the only person to be approached by the police boat.
“He lives in the streets close to the beach so he maybe walked about 200m there and carried his paddleboard,” he said.
“He went straight out on his own and wasn’t near anyone else - he was the only craft in the water.
“When he got to about 400m out from the Brighton side, down near the marina, a police boat with its lights flashing screamed into the water.”
It is claimed that police spoke to the an for about 10 minutes before they made their way back to the shore.
A Victoria Police spokesman confirmed the man had been giving a warning for paddleboarding but had not been handed down a fine.
“The (stand-up paddleboard) rider was warned with no infringement notice issued,” the spokesman said.
“Use of stand-up paddleboards (along with all vessels) is banned as part of the current stage 3 restrictions.”
The witness, who also lives locally, said that many locals have been paddleboarding in the area since the restrictions came into place.
“Everyone paddleboards - I paddleboard. This is the first time I’ve seen something like this happen. I was paddleboarding last week,” he said.
“Restrictions that they have in place seem to be very draconian. I understand if someone is driving from another suburb but if you’re a local walking 200m to the water and you’re not interacting with anyone because you can’t - you’re out on the water on your own - I see no problem with it whatsoever.”
When contacted by Herald Sun about the incident, a spokesman for Victoria Police said they “will not be providing commentary on individual spot checks, reports of people breaching self-isolation or breaches of mass gatherings”.
Last month, the City of Port Phillip Council closed their beaches off and can only be used as a thoroughfare or for exercise. The water remains open to swimmers.
The Herald Sun has contacted the council for comment.
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