Eurobodalla Council’s Business Development Board is developing a Boating Strategy. The strategy aims to expand boating tourism with its related business across the shire, especially by trying to increase the number of visitors with trailer boats and establishing additional small marinas and related facilities.

It was not until after the strategy was endorsed by Councillors in December that invitations for input were sent to some non-boating community groups.

The Coastwatchers Association secretary, Jenny Edwards, said that members had questioned some of the Strategy

“Will promoting more visitors with fast motorised boats, especially personal water craft such as Jetskis, fit with the successful Nature Coast image and protect our waterways?”

“What will be the effect on low-impact water users such as swimmers, snorkellers, and those in small craft like canoes, kayaks, catamarans and sailboards?”

“Who will pay for all the expensive infrastructure that will be required? Additional ramps, parking areas, storage facilities, wharves and marinas have all been mentioned.”

“Would it be better for the shire to be trying to service the maximum number of tourists with the minimum number of boats by promoting charter boat fishing, tour boat operators and small hire craft?”

“Why encourage the alienation of our waterways with more permanent moorings and marina berths when many of the boats at the current ones are rarely if ever taken out? Would it be better to free up these moorings and berths for temporary use by visitors and locals?”

“Was the plan for a small marina at Ryans Creek, Moruya, exhibited with the plan for the adjoining Old Moruya Caravan Park?”

“Why consider privatising public foreshores for boating related businesses, clubs, storage, secure parking and the like? There are private waterfront properties that could be acquired if necessary and some facilities such as dry storage areas for trailer boats and secure parking for marinas do not need to be right on the waterfront.”

“Is it sensible or sustainable to encourage more recreational fishing without first cutting back on commercial fishing of estuaries and near-shore ocean trawling, and without declaring some important habitat areas as Marine National Parks?”

Council’s business development manager, Greg Bowman, says more work will be done on the Strategy this month. “Coastwatchers is hoping that the Board will listen to feedback from the wider community and do some some lateral thinking before the strategy is finalized,” Mrs Edwards said.

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See also Coastwatchers submission on the Boating Strategy

For details of the Proposed Regional Boating Strategy see the Report to Council on 21 December 2004 on Eurobodalla Council's website

www.esc.nsw.gov.au publications/agendas and minutes.