Weekend sojourn
Intra-state travel opens up Australia wide, allowing boaters to travel within their state and stay overnight.
05 June 2020
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This week, Tasmania joined all other states and territories by allowing intra-state travel and overnight stays, a boon for recreational and commercial boating.
Boating Industry Association President Darren Vaux said the ongoing easing of COVID-19 restrictions was good news for the industry and a reflection of successful efforts to contain the virus.
The news from Tasmania is welcome and follows moves by NSW, Queensland and Victoria over the past week that saw them join South Australia, Western Australia and Northern Territory in enabling people to travel within their state and stay overnight.
“The relaxation combines with the ability to go boating recreationally. Together, this will help accelerate the recovery of the boating sector, which shares much common ground with tourism,” Vaux said.
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“That is why the industry encourages efforts by state governments at this time to promote domestic intra-state travel and access to our waterways for recreation.
“Australia has more than 900,000 registered boats and a countless number that do not require registration such as paddle craft and many small sail craft. The majority of these are highly portable by trailer or by car topping and are used by millions of Australians to experience our wide variety of waterways from creek to coast.
“The easing up of travel and overnighting can only help all those households with trailerable boats or car toppers to get on the water and visit regional areas, supporting regional economies.”
If you do not own a boat, there is always the option to hire a boat or take a charter, which is a great way to experience the boating lifestyle.
The BIA reminds people boating to practise safe and responsible boating, which includes:
- ensuring the weather and sea conditions are suitable
- ensuring your boat and equipment are suitable and your safety gear is complete and in date
- telling someone where you are going and your estimated time of return
- wearing a lifejacket, especially for children, those 60+ or if going out alone
- being COVID-Safe and following physical distancing guidelines as well as gathering and hygiene advice.
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