New On-The-Spot Fines

1 October, 2003

NSW Minister for Transport Services Michael Costa has announced new on-the-spot fines for anyone not wearing a life jacket when crossing coastal surf bars.

Mr Costa said the new fine would came 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 eight fatalities on NSW bars since 1999,” Mr Costa said.
“Narooma Bar on the South Coast is especially dangerous, with six 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% 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.

Waterways has designated the following river entrances as bars over which lifejackets must be worn. In the interests of safety, any time, anywhere, a vessel puts to sea then crew and passengers should consider wearing lifejackets.

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.

South Coast Region

Name of Bar General Description of Bar Location
Bermagui River
Located near the town of Bermagui in the vicinity of the confluence of the Bermagui River with the Tasman Sea.

Clyde River
Located near the town of Batemans Bay in the vicinity of the confluence of the Clyde River and Batemans Bay.

Lake Conjola
Located near the town of Lake Conjola in the vicinity of the confluence of Lake Conjola with the Tasman Sea.

Crookhaven River
Located near the town of Crookhaven in the vicinity of the confluence of the Shoalhaven River with the Tasman Sea.

Currambene Creek
Located near the town of Huskisson in the vicinity of the confluence of Currambene Creek with the Tasman Sea.

Currarong Creek
Located near the town of Currarong in the vicinity of the confluence of Currarong Creek with the Tasman Sea.

Lake Illawarra
Located near the town of Warilla in the vicinity of the confluence of Lake Illawarra with the Tasman Sea.

Merimbula Lake
Located near the town of Merimbula in the vicinity of the confluence of Merimbula Lake with the Tasman Sea.

Minnamurra River
Located near the town of Minnamurra in the vicinity of the confluence of the Minnamurra River with the Tasman Sea.

Moruya River
Located near the town of Moruya Heads in the vicinity of the confluence of the Moruya River with the Tasman Sea.

Narrawallee Inlet
Located near the town of Narrawallee in the vicinity of the confluence of Narrawallee Inlet with the Tasman Sea.

Pambula River Located near the town of Pambula Beach in the vicinity of the confluence of the Pambula River with the Tasman Sea.

Sussex Inlet
Located near Jervis Bay and Cudmirrah National Parks in the vicinity of the confluence of Sussex Inlet with the Tasman Sea.

Tomaga River
Located near the towns of Mossy Point and Tomakin in the vicinity of the confluence of the Tomaga River with the Tasman Sea.

Tuross Inlet
Located near the town of Tuross Head in the vicinity of the confluence of the Tuross Lake with the Tasman Sea.

Wagonga Inlet
Located near the town of Narooma in the vicinity of the confluence of the Wagonga Inlet with the Tasman Sea.

Wollongong Harbour
Located near the city of Wollongong in the vicinity of the confluence of Wollongong Harbour with the Tasman Sea.

Wonboyn River
Located near the town of Wonboyn in the vicinity of the confluence of the Wonboyn River with the Tasman Sea.

Hunter/Inland Region
Name of Bar General Description of Bar Location

Swansea Channel
Located near the suburb of Swansea in the vicinity of the confluence of Lake Macquarie’s Swansea Channel with the Tasman Sea.

Tuggerah Lake
Located near the town of The Entrance in the vicinity of the confluence of Tuggerah Lake with the Tasman Sea.

Hawkesbury/Broken Bay Region
Name of Bar General Description of Bar Location

Brisbane Water
Located near the town of Umina in the vicinity of the confluence of Brisbane Water with Broken Bay.

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