Elwood beach paddleboarder allegedly fined for breaching stay home restrictions
Sharon McGowan, Herald Sun
ELWOOD BEACH PADDLEBOARDER ALLEGEDLY FINED FOR BREACHING STAY HOME RESTRICTIONSApril 14, 2020 12:06pm
www.heraldsun.com.au/coronavirus/elwood-beach-paddleboarder-allegedly-fined-for-breaching-stay-home-restrictions/news-story/49261627790d608db10a9d7984b34ac8The man, who is understood to be a doctor, was hit with a $1652 penalty notice for breaching the government's stay at home directive and was escorted to the shore at about 5.30pm on Monday by police who were patrolling the water.
A witness, who wished not to be named, revealed that although there were also swimmers in the water, the man - who paddled out shortly after 5pm - was the only person to be approached by the police boat.
"He lives in the streets close to the beach so he maybe walked about 200m there and carried his paddleboard," he said. "He went straight out on his own and wasn't near anyone else - he was the only craft in the water.
"When he got to about 400m out from the Brighton side, down near the marina, a police boat with its lights flashing screamed into the water."
It is claimed that police spoke to the man for about 10 minutes before they made their way back to the shore.
The witness, who also lives locally, said that many locals have been paddleboarding in the area since the restrictions came into place.
"Everyone paddleboards - I paddleboard. This is the first time I've seen something like this happen. I was paddleboarding last week," he said.
"Restrictions that they have in place seem to be very draconian. I understand if someone is driving from another suburb but if you're a local walking 200m to the water and you're not interacting with anyone because you can't - you're out on the water on your own - I see no problem with it whatsoever."
When contacted by
Herald Sun about the incident, a spokesperson for Victoria Police said they "will not be providing commentary on individual spot checks, reports of people breaching self-isolation or breaches of mass gatherings".
Last month, the City of Port Phillip Council closed their beaches off and can only be used as a thoroughfare or for exercise. The water remains open to swimmers.
The
Herald Sun has contacted the council for comment.