South Australia’s Recreational Boating Safety Strategy 2025 – 2030 released
The Department for Infrastructure and Transport has released South Australia’s first Recreational Boating Safety Strategy 2025–2030 (the Strategy).
The strategy, which was informed by community feedback, focuses on 25 actions across five priority areas to improve safety on our waters. The strategy’s vision is to:
· foster a culture of safety among recreational boaters
· achieve zero fatalities and zero harm to others.
Safer boating through education
One of the first actions that we have delivered on are our free Stay Afloat lifejacket clinics. These clinics will share important boating safety information at boat ramps and key events across the State.
Marine Safety SA team members will show boaters how to maintain lifejackets and will provide lifejacket replacement parts which will be supplied free of charge, as required. Marine Safey SA staff will also assist in answering any boating questions you have including what safety gear you need and understanding emergency communications. Visit our Stay Afloat website to find upcoming clinics. Bookings are not required.
Safer boating through technology
A mobile app for boaters and additional webcams across the State are some of the safer boating technology actions that will be an initial focus of the strategy roll out.
Boating safety mobile apps support traditional emergency communications used by boaters and provide real time safety alerts, weather alerts, reminders for safety equipment expiry dates, reminders to log trips and much more.
The Marine Safety SA webcams give a bird’s eye view of the boating conditions and boat ramp traffic through a 24/7 live feed which can be accessed online to help boaters plan and predict risks. Our new Wirrina webcam launched at the end of January 2025. Keep your eye out on our popular webcam page as the network expands.
Safer boating operation and knowledge
We will modernise boat licencing, with an online education component to be introduced for boaters to complete alongside the current theory test. This will be similar to obtaining a driver’s licence and will strengthen the learning experience for boaters.
Young boaters aged 12 – 15 years will need at least six months supervised on-water experience before they can sit for the practical test if they want to operate solo. Restrictions will also be introduced for how far they can operate from shore when operating solo, providing them with an extra layer of safety.
Safer waterway management
Swim-only and non-powered vessel zones and speed limits in certain areas will be introduced to help boaters and other water users share the water safely.
Jet ski riders will not be able to circle, weave or ride erratically near moored vessels and dwellings helping to address dangerous behaviour by jet ski riders.
Lifejacket wear and safety equipment review
Lifejacket and safety equipment requirements will be simplified for boaters, ensuring regulations are clearer, more consistent and easier to follow.
Boaters in semi-protected areas will have the option of carrying electronic visual distress signals instead of flares, providing they have extra safety equipment onboard.
Motorised vessels in unprotected waters more than 3.7 kilometres from shore will need to carry an EPIRB (emergency position indicating radio beacon), bringing the requirement for gulf waters in line with the remainder of the coast.
For more information including actions and to read the strategy visit the Marine Safety SA website.