Long weekend boating safety blitz nets fines and cautions on Hunter waterways

And that has meant a busy few days for the state's boating safety officers, as they ensure rules and regulations don't turn to water.

"The October long weekend is one of the busiest times for us, being the start of the boating season," said Peter Browne, a boating safety officer for NSW Maritime.

Peter Browne has worked on Lake Macquarie for about 18 years. He said this boating season was unlike any before; there was the COVID-19 influence.

"We have a lot of new boaters on the water," Mr Browne said. "With the start of COVID, one thing people could still do was get on the water."

Sonia McKay, NSW Maritime's Principal Manager North, said there had been a 50 per cent rise in boat licence applications since July last year.

"On the water, we're seeing increased numbers of boats and jet skis, including people who are new to boating," Sonia McKay said.

The increase in boatie numbers also brought challenges. Peter Browne pointed out boats were being pulled out of storage and put in the water without being checked. Others had bought vessels second-hand without ensuring they had all the necessary safety equipment.

So NSW Maritime officers have been participating in a statewide boating safety compliance blitz, Operation Be Prepared, over the long weekend.

Peter Browne has been patrolling Lake Macquarie.

Setting off from Marks Point on Monday in a 7.6-metre vessel, he first headed to the northern end of Swansea Channel, around the "drop over".

"It's a good judgement place, the drop over; with how many boats are here, you can tell what your day will be like," Mr Browne said.

At the height of COVID restrictions, there could be more than 50 boats here. On Saturday, there were about 30. On Monday, about a dozen were milling about.

The NSW Maritime officer approached a boat with three generations of the Archer family, all fishing enthusiasts, on board; Gary, son Joel, and his boy Sam.

It was their first time on the water for about eight months, but the fishing wasn't going so well.

"Not a sniff", lamented Joel Archer.

At least his father caught plenty of praise from the boating safety officer. Gary Archer had checked the engine and lifejackets on Sunday, and, earlier in the year, he had attended a boating education course. Not everyone was so well prepared, Peter Browne said. At the start of the season, in particular, he would regularly have to tow stricken boats back to shore.

Along Swansea Channel, Mr Browne approached a boat trundling along with two blokes in it. The passenger was dangling one of his legs in the water. The officer told the passenger that could cost his mate $250. The bloke pulled his leg in and escaped with a warning.

"If they were going faster, or it was a child, it'd be a different story," Mr Browne said, explaining why he didn't issue a fine.

A man rowing a small inflatable dinghy without wearing a lifejacket was not so lucky. Peter Browne took his details and intended to issue him a $250 penalty notice.

Over the weekend dozens of personal watercraft, or jet skis, were around the channel area, and officers were observing them from up close. One officer was on a NSW Maritime jet ski.

"It's really good in the channel here," said Chris Austen, the boating safety officer on the jet ski. "We can get under the bridge, and we can quickly intercept those doing the wrong thing."

Among the jet ski riders stopped for a routine check was Joey Middleton and his passenger Holly Hayes.

"I didn't even know they were out here [on jet skis]," said Ms Hayes.

"It's good they're doing it," said Mr Middleton, who was complying with the rules. "But it still makes me nervous!"

Sonia McKay said on the Hunter's waterways over the weekend, more than 500 checks were done, with officers handing out 28 penalty notices, or fines, and 30 official cautions. The most common offences were "not carrying lifejackets and other necessary safety equipment", and "not wearing a lifejacket when required".

Sonia McKay said this marked just the beginning of a busy time on the water.

"Given the past few months, and this weekend in particular, I think our officers are going to be very busy over the coming months," she said.

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