Victoria risks boating chaos in COVID-19's wake, industry warns

The Boating Industry Association of Victoria has called on the state government to allow boat owners to have their boats serviced before this month’s anticipated end to the harshest coronavirus lockdown in Australia, or face chaos as under-maintained boats flood back to Melbourne’s waterways.

The warning comes as many boat owners anticipate the easing of restrictions to coincide with what could be one of the best fishing seasons the state has experienced as Port Phillip Bay and Western Port both take months-long breaks from recreational fishing under the lockdowns.

According to the BIAV, the extended Victorian lockdowns have generated a “massive backlog” of unserviced boats that now presented a “risk to life”.

“The Boating Industry Association of Victoria is calling on the [Victorian] Premier [Daniel Andrews], and notifying the entire parliament, of a major safety risk that is developing as a result of vessel servicing not currently being permitted,” it said.

“Despite an overwhelming case and essential need to allow boat servicing to take place, it has fallen on deaf ears at the Department of Health and Human Service (DHHS) level.

“BIAV and members are deeply concerned that DHHS, who appear to be making the decision are just not understanding what is at stake, nor the risks involved.

“BIAV are now asking that this be addressed by premier and cabinet to have this decision reversed, and if not immediately, then certainly for the September 28 second step of the COVID recovery roadmap.”

The solution, according to the BIAV, is to allow boat owners – the BIAV’s numbers suggest anywhere between 16,000 to 32,000 of them – to have their vessels serviced before the tough Stage Four restrictions lift and people trip over each other to hit the water.

“Further restrictions of servicing will only add to this number and further escalate the risks.

“The industry has a capacity issue and the shortage of skilled people to perform this work and catch up on the backlog will exacerbate the problem and escalate the risks,” it said.

The BIAV said it feared people with unserviced boats would take a “huge risk” if they took their families out on the water once restrictions eased.

“As well as disablement likelihood and the associated risk to life, there are many other potential engines, hull, or system faults and failures that could occur if servicing and safety maintenance is not completed,” it said.

“These can range from fire, explosion, gas leak, capsize and sinking and are serious life and death concerns.”

The BIAV said work done on emergency and rescue service vessels showed servicing could be done inside a COVIDSafe framework, and could be supported with contactless pick-up and return.