WA Police send out drones to catch iso-busting boaties
Boaties in breach of WA’s strict COVID-19 lockdowns have nowhere to hidePolice in Perth have reportedly used drones to track boaters out on the water to ensure they are not breaching strict COVID-19 restrictions in the state.
Perth and the regional area of Peel, about 70km south of the state capital, were plunged into strict lockdown on Friday in response to a COVID-19 outbreak. The lockdown’s timing could not have been worse, with the city preparing for a three-day long weekend as it takes a public holiday to commemorate Anzac Day.
While boating, including kayaking and paddleboarding, has not been banned, people taking to the water must adhere to strict time restrictions that limit recreational activity outside of the home to just an hour a day.
Fremantle Marine Rescue warned boaters on the weekend that WA Police were using drones to survey boats out on the water to ensure boaters were not breaching restrictions.
It said police were also checking vehicle registrations at boat ramps around the city.
“We know the lockdown sucks, especially when it’s a long weekend and the weather is this good, but unfortunately boating is not considered an essential activity nor does it count as one hour of exercise,” Marine Rescue Fremantle said on social media.
“Whether you agree with it or not, the rules are being enforced.”
WA Police Force was contacted for comment.
Rottnest Island exposure
One of Perth’s favourite boating destinations, Rottnest Island, was added to the state’s list of possible exposure sites over the weekend, with anyone visiting the island during a set timeline required to follow the same lockdown requirements as residents in Perth and the Peel region.
The island was the site of WA’s quarantine front line during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic last year, with visitors arriving at the state by ship spending 14 days in isolation on the island before being allowed on the mainland.
While the circuit-breaker lockdown is scheduled to lift tonight, West Australian health authorities may extended it if more cases of community transmission are recorded.
The West Australian government last year added 40 drones to its police force that Police Minister Michelle Roberts said would be used for land and marine searches, as well as car crash investigations.
As of yesterday, Western Australia had 31 active cases of COVID-19 after two more cases surfaced yesterday.
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