Restrictions have been reduced for people wanting to access the River Murray in Zone A and Zone E.
Zone A
Zone A is the part of the River Murray from where it enters South Australia to the upriver side of Lock 5.
In Zone A, you can now:
- operate a motorised vessel (Jet-ski, Houseboat or Pontoon boat), but you must not exceed a speed of 10 knots or tow a person from the vessel and you must not exceed a speed of 4 knots between sunset and sunrise.
- operate a human powered vessel (kayak/canoe) but you must not go within 250m of a lock or weir.
- swim, bathe and dive, but you must not swim, bathe or dive within 250m of a lock or weir.
If in or on the floodplain, you must not be within 50m of an overhead powerline.
Restrictions around Ral Ral Bridge and Paringa Bridge have also been removed.
Zone E
Zone E is the part of the River Murray from the downriver side of Lock 2 to the upriver side of Lock 1.
You can now operate a motorised vessel (including a jet-ski, but not a houseboat) but must not exceed a speed of 10 knots or tow a person from the vessel. People can fish or yabby from their motorised boats.
However, you cannot exceed a speed of 4 knots within 250m of an engaged levee or within 250m from the location of any dwelling or buildings, where it is partially or wholly submerged.
Permitted purposes still apply to those who want to enter the river to:
- operate a human powered vessel,
- swim, bathe or dive in the river,
- operate a houseboat or pontoon boat.
Note: Current restrictions remain for Zone F.
Everyone in the open area of a vessel must wear a lifejacket equivalent to a level 50 standard or above if in the open area of a vessel of up to 12 metres in length.
To ensure a safe return to river activities, the community are reminded that people operating watercraft, swimming, canoeing or participating in other activities on the River Murray are advised to take appropriate precautions.
This comes after the State Coordinator signed Emergency Management (River Murray) (No 6) Direction 2022, which came at 2:00pm today, 3 February 2023.
For a full list of restrictions to go SA.GOV.AU – Restrictions (www.sa.gov.au)
