Confusion reigns over Melbourne's COVID-19 boating ban

The Victorian Government announced late on Friday that boat owners inside the locked-down parts of greater Melbourne could once again hit the water – but they had to live within 5km of a boat ramp as the whole of greater Melbourne is still under severe travel restrictions, and could only spend two hours on the water measured from the time they left their home.

But while the state’s Better Boating Victoria website announced that ramps were open, boaters turning up to them were initially turned away by police because the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services had not updated its website to say boat ramps and jetties had re-opened.

Police said they were dictated by information provided by the Department of Health and Human Services. The department eventually updated its website to say that boat ramps and jetties were open.

The state’s water police were out in force at the weekend, ensuring boaters were complying with the heavily restrictive COVID-19 control measures. Victoria is still recovering from a second wave of the coronavirus pandemic that saw the number of new COVID-19 cases jump to almost 700 a day at its peak.

Changes to restrictions made last week have also meant that marine and specialist mechanics were now able to service boats to ensure their safe operation, as well as perform scheduled and logbook services and inspections.

The small number of Melbourne fishers who were able to get out on the water over the weekend flooded onto social media with news of their catches out of a bay that has pretty much had a rest from recreational fishing since April.