Fine time: water safety campaign coming
DUNEDIN boaties not wearing lifejackets will be slapped with fines over a fiveday period this summer as a water safety campaign floats into town.
Maritime New Zealand announced today Otago Harbour had been added to its No Excuses campaign along with 13 other areas across the country.
The campaign provides funding for a Maritime New Zealand officer to come to an area for five days to join local harbourmasters in enforcing lifejacket and speed rules.
The Otago Regional Council has produced new draft harbour bylaws which would require the compulsory use of lifejackets for passengers on boats under 9m long.
However, it is still in the stage of processing submissions.
As a result, during these five days people on recreational vessels in Otago Harbour could be hit with fines of up to $300 under national maritime rules for not carrying or wearing lifejackets.
ORC harbourmaster Steve Rushbrook said he was ‘‘pleased’’ to be part of the programme.
The presence of the maritime officer would reinforce the role of harbourmasters.
The national campaign starts today and runs until March.
It was not yet known when Dunedin’s week would be, but it would be after Christmas, he said.
This was because the ORC did not have a harbourmaster’s boat at present.
The regional council tendered for one earlier this year.
Education was more important than infringement notices, Mr Rushbrook said.
It was likely the new rules would mean everyone on board recreational vessels must wear a lifejacket, and then it was up to a skipper’s discretion when it was appropriate to say they were not needed.
‘‘As someone said, ‘are you expecting me to sleep in it?’’’