New figures show it’s been busy for the squad — reinforcing the message for locals and visitors to the state’s waterways to do their part in following the rules this Easter.
Water police responded to 840 incidents between November 2025 and March this year.
About 520 of the callouts related to vessel collisions or vessel sinkings, and almost 100 related to people being in trouble on the water and needing to be rescued.
Other callouts related to dangerous jet ski behaviour including speeding and travelling too close to other swimmers, injuries occurring on boats and jet skis, as well as mechanical failures.
The Water Police Squad responded to several incidents involving boats on fire, with most occurring inland, including Lake Eildon, Lake Bunga, Lake Maran, Bonnie Doon and Lake Nagambie.
Thankfully, none of the incidents resulted in anyone suffering significant injuries.
The 840 callouts resulted in more than 300 infringements being issued — most for jet ski behaviour.
Boaties, jet skiers and kayakers putting others at risk will be a focus throughout Easter as water police team up with local units to conduct proactive patrols both along the coast and inland, including at Lake Eildon.
Police will be conducting breath tests and doing licence checks, as well as carrying out vessel inspections to ensure operators have the required safety equipment on board such as life jackets, torches and fire extinguishers.
The law requires boat users to wear a life jacket on a powered vessel up to 4.8m, when travelling solo, and at heightened risk.
It is mandatory for jet skiers and kayakers to wear a lifejacket at all times, while children aged under 12 must also wear a life jacket at all times when in open areas of a vessel.
Water Police Squad Inspector James Dalton said officers would have a bolstered presence over the Easter weekend to ensure everyone was following the rules and playing their part in staying safe.
“People heading out on the water need to remember that a split-second decision can have lifelong consequences,” he said.
“We don’t want a day out on the water to end in tragedy — so please wear a life jacket, respect the safety of other water users and carry the mandatory safety equipment.”
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