What’s happening?
Boaties from Gladstone to Townsville are being urged to treat safety as part of every winter holiday trip.
Maritime Safety Queensland expects mild conditions to bring thousands of families onto waterways across the state.
The agency is reminding skippers to avoid the Fatal Five risks on the water. These include speeding, alcohol and drugs, not wearing lifejackets, poor lookout and poor trip planning.
Maritime Safety Queensland officers will be on the water during winter. They will check lifejacket rules, speed limits and safe boating around other vessels and waterway users.
Why it matters?
The warning carries extra weight for communities between Gladstone and Townsville.
This part of Queensland has popular boating areas, fishing routes, coastal waters and island access points. During school holidays, those areas can become busier with families and recreational skippers.
Maritime Safety Queensland said lifejackets remain one of the simplest and most effective ways to prevent fatalities. That message matters when conditions appear calm, because risk can change quickly on the water.
Safe winter boating is not only about good weather. It also depends on skippers making careful choices before and during each trip.
Local Impact
Lifejacket non-compliance was the main issue identified from Gladstone to Townsville after Maritime Safety Queensland’s Easter Boating Safety Campaign.
The result suggests some local skippers are still missing basic safety requirements.
That will place lifejacket use under closer attention during the winter holiday period. Officers will also be checking whether boats are moving safely, keeping proper distance and following speed rules.
For families heading out from local ramps, the message is practical. Check the gear, know the rules and make sure children are protected before the boat leaves shore.
By the numbers
- 48 per cent of intercepted vessels across Queensland were fully compliant during this year’s Easter Boating Safety Campaign.
- Around 30 per cent of vessels intercepted from Gladstone to Townsville were found to be non-compliant.
- The minimum penalty for non-compliance is $333, so a missed safety rule can carry an immediate cost.
Zoom In
Queensland’s updated lifejacket laws have been in place since 1 December 2024.
Under the changes, lifejackets must be worn in specific higher-risk situations.
That includes boating alone in small open boats. It also includes boating with children under 12 in small open boats.
Lifejackets are also compulsory when crossing coastal bars and when boating at night in small open boats.
Children aged under 12 must wear lifejackets in open boats while underway.
For the Gladstone to Townsville region, these rules are important for family fishing trips, short coastal runs and small boat use.
Zoom Out
Other Queensland regions recorded different safety patterns during the Easter campaign.
On the Gold Coast, speeding was the biggest issue. Around 30 per cent of intercepted vessels were non-compliant, with personal watercraft behind most offences.
On the Sunshine Coast, lifejacket breaches were most common. Speeding followed, and personal watercraft were again the main offenders.
In Brisbane, compliance was generally very good. Most breaches were linked to offshore safety equipment and lifejacket requirements.
Across Queensland, Maritime Safety Queensland is asking boaties to avoid the Fatal Five and prepare before launching.
What To Look For Next?
With winter school holidays drawing more families onto northern waterways, Maritime Safety Queensland officers will remain active from Gladstone to Townsville.
Local skippers can reduce risk by checking lifejackets, planning the trip, avoiding alcohol and drugs, keeping a proper lookout and giving themselves enough time on the water. Those simple choices can help keep holiday boating safe for families, passengers and other waterway users.
