Jet skiers have defied a declaration aimed at keeping vessels off Sunshine Coast and Noosa waters as Cyclone Alfred looms.
Mooloolaba and Noosa fall into what has been declared a red zone, which means vessels should not be moved without the permission of the harbour master.
One adventurous jet ski rider who took two passengers across the Noosa bar had to be rescued by the Coast Guard early Thursday afternoon after his machine broke down about 500m offshore.
Noosa Coast Guard commander Lindsay Hall said Surf Life Saving Queensland spotted the three people waving for help about 12.30pm.
“They sent a jet ski and picked up the two passengers but they couldn’t tow a jet ski, so they called us,” he said.
Mr Hall said the jet ski trio were lucky they were seen because the rider had no phone, no radio and no anchor.
“He would have been drifting northwards and there’s absolutely no one about up there today. No four-wheel-drives on the beach and I believe they’re going to stop the ferry (it closed at 6pm Wednesday),” he said.
The jet ski rider is believed to have been the first person to test the Noosa bar in days, since Cyclone Alfred’s presence offshore began pushing through stronger winds and bigger swell.
Two more jet ski riders pushed their luck at the entrance to Mooloolaba Harbour during the day and there were reports of more at the Maroochy bar this morning but boaties have generally heeded warnings about hazardous conditions.
An emergency warning is in place for all waters from Double Island Point through to Point Danger at Tweed Heads.
The Brisbane and Southport pilotage areas have been closed, meaning there are no escorts from Mooloolaba or Southport for ships into the Port of Brisbane, which is also closed.
The closure also applies to associated waterways, rivers, marinas, buoy mooring grids and anchorages to all vessels.
“Vessels are not to leave their moorings or marina berths until the official all clear is given by the regional harbour master,” the warning says.
Sergeant Kyle Bates, of the Sunshine Coast Water Police, said all vessels and personal watercraft were subject to the harbour master’s direction and the Noosa jet ski incident was under investigation.
Sgt Bates said fines of up to $32,000 for individuals or $100,000 for corporations could be issued for disobeying the direction.
He said the message to jet skiers and boaties was: “don’t go out in these conditions”.
“We’re sort of impressing on people that it’s a dangerous activity under the current conditions,” he said.
“They should heed thew warnings, and not only is there a chance that they may not receive assistance, they are putting other people’s lives at risk – the lifeguards and the volunteer marine rescue units, as well as police that need to go out and assist them when they get into difficulty.
“It may be the case where the conditions are that dangerous that will be not to send assistance to them if they go out in such conditions.”
Hazardous surf is predicted, with tides up to 1m higher than usual. A wave buoy off Caloundra recorded a 3.76m wave and showed the swell was picking up again after easing back for a couple of days.
A tracking map shows ships have cleared the area under threat of Cyclone Alfred.
The last cruise ship due into Mooloolaba did not stop last week due to conditions, which made it impossible to send tender boats to shore, and the next one is not due until March 30.
The Pacific Encounter was photographed skirting past Golden Beach on Wednesday morning, although it was not due to leave Brisbane for an island-hopper cruise to Vanuatu until March 8.
