THE Water Police Squad is issuing a water safety warning ahead of the weekend as figures show the unit has been called to more than 100 incidents across the state in the first week of 2025. During the same time last year there were 17 incidents, while the year before 36 were recorded over the period. Police said many of this year’s callouts have related to dangerous jet ski behaviour including speeding, travelling too close to other swimmers and in some cases even collisions with other vessels. On Sunday, January 5, Victoria Police and NSW Police were required to respond to an incident at Lake Mulwala which hospitalised three people, including two children. NSW officers were told a boat towing a ski biscuit came around a bend and the inflatable crashed into a stationary fishing boat. A 34-year-old man and a 10-year-old girl were airlifted to Melbourne hospitals, both in a serious but stable condition while an eight-year-old boy was taken to Wangaratta Hospital. Police also responded to serious collisions in Rye, Parkdale Beach and Safety Beach last weekend. With maximum temperatures in the low 30s predicted by the Bureau of Meteorology for Wangaratta and surrounds this weekend, police are urging vessel operators to take extra care with significant crowds expected both inland and along the coast. Water police will have a presence at key areas and beaches with officers also to patrol inland areas including Lake Eildon. Water Police Squad Inspector James Dalton said vessel operators can expect to be breath tested, have their marine licences checked, and vessels inspected for the mandatory safety equipment such as lifejackets, torches and fire extinguishers. “While most people do the right thing, there are some who show blatant disregard for the safety of other water users,” he said. “Water police will continue to patrol the state’s waterways this summer, but vessel operators need to take some responsibility for their own behaviour and safety, because we can’t be everywhere at once. “People need to remember that a split-second decision can have lifelong consequences.” On top of patrols, the squad will also be running several targeted operations over the summer season to target rogue jet ski riders both on the water and at ramps.
