Mr Greg Bowman
Business Development Manager 28 January 2005
Eurobodalla Shire Council

BOATING STRATEGY

Dear Greg

Thankyou for inviting our Association to comment on the Boating Strategy. We apologise for the delay in replying. It is always difficult to get feedback from our members in the summer holiday season.

It would have been good to have had input in the initial stages of development of the strategy. Our experience with other Boards has been that businesses and environmentalists can work together for improved outcomes all round.

Trailer boats may be popular now but mobile homes and campers appear to be increasing rapidly. With Australia's aging population this market segment could be a better sector on which to focus.

Regarding the Boating Strategy, it was pleasing to read that the "group feels safe and environmentally sound fuelling and waste discharge facilities are a basic starting point" but it will need more than this to protect our estuaries if boating traffic expands as the strategy proposes. Protecting our assets (the shires waterways) should be listed as (a) in priority 1.

Was the Ryans Creek Masterplan showing the proposed marina exhibited with the Old Moruya Caravan Park Plan of Management - if not what was the reason?

I have summarised comments and questions from our members in point form below -

Confused marketing ideas

The boating strategy is primarily aimed at increasing tourism. However, a great deal of effort and money has gone into promoting the successful "Nature Coast" image. The "Boating Coast" idea, especially as set out in the strategy reported to Council, is not in keeping with the Nature Coast image .

It would fit better with the Nature Coast tourism image to promote small non-motorised craft and to ban PWCs altogether. Small sailing boats can be pulled by trailers, many other small craft can be transported on car roofs, eg canoes, sea kayaks, sailboards, etc. There would be reduced demand for storage space, ramps and the like if these small craft were promoted.

Why concentrate on trailer boats?

• There is a considerable greenhouse impact from towing these craft and from the use of boat motors. It is likely that measures to limit Australia's huge per capita greenhouse gas contribution will hit boat and car users in the future. Trailer boats will probably not remain the "most affordable and popular", perhaps after large amounts of money have been spent on the infrastructure required for them
• Road safety issues - increasing numbers of trailer boats, especially during peak holiday times, will only increase driver frustrations and the road toll.
• Impact on other users - Fast motorised craft have more impact on other water users eg canoers, swimmers, snorkellers.
• Expensive infrastructure is required - A large amount of infrastructure will be needed eg ramps, parking areas, storage areas, etc. These should be user pays
• Pollution - Increasing the number of motorised craft also increases pollution from fuel and oil spills, exhaust fumes, etc. Most power boats do not refuel at wharves even if wharves with safe refuelling facilities are available. Fishers are notorious for the amount of litter they dump overboard

Promoting boating tourism is a worthwhile exercise but-

• Boating should not come at the expense of other water users - eg PWCs conflict with just about everyone; and fast power-boats should not go near small non-motorised craft or swimmers. How is the negative press on PWCs going to be silenced? The more PWCs there are the more people will complain and the worse the publicity will become.
  
  It is time for Council to call for the removal of these machines from the beaches and enclosed waters of the Nature Coast. Coastwatchers proposed a compromise idea to the Minister that would permit them well off the coast only (at least 300m from shore). They should not be encouraged to come here.
• The shire should be trying to service the maximum number of tourists with the minimum number of boats - eg promoting charter boat fishing, tour boat operators, small hire craft (especially non-motorised).
  For example Queensland and Great Barrier Reef tour boats have the ability to limit damage to the marine ecosystem, ensure fish sizes and bag limits are complied with, reduce littering, etc.
  
  Much less infrastructure would be required for the relatively few tour/charter operators. This would be suitable for disabled and elderly and paid for (or at least subsidised) by the operators.
• Boating related businesses should not be allowed to spread along the foreshores and especially not onto public reserves.
• We support the idea that rental properties should be required to provide space for trailer boat storage or at least have a share of secure storage sites. These need not be near the water and could be scattered throughout the shire - trailers & boats can be picked up as required.
• Secure parking at marinas - At Batemans Bay, for example, land should be acquired across the road or on Golf Links Drive with a right of way passage through. Gear can be taken in trolleys or the like to the boats. The marina users should pay for secure parking areas. Coastwatchers suggested this years ago when land was much cheaper.
• We should not be encouraging more permanent moorings. These alienate water and foreshore areas. Often the boats sit there unused for most of the year. It would be better to have a limited number of temporary marina berths/moorings that can be used by visitors and locals. Boats at mooring or in marinas should not be used as housing or holiday homes. They should be taken out very regularly (say at least every fortnight ) to justify taking up valuable space in the public waterways.
• Encouraging more fishing without first stopping commercial fishing of estuaries and near shore ocean trawling and without declaring important habitat areas as Marine National Parks will guarantee that fish stocks are soon completely depleted and unable to recover.
  
  To quote some of the graffiti on a door in Braidwood - (photo available)
  Going fishing in the Clyde River - forget it !!
  32 pro netters have left the river fishless
  Don't put up with it - complain to your local member
  My next trip(is) north !!
  Have you ever seen a fishing inspector in the Clyde!!
• Clustering boating related businesses is a good idea, for example at the new Moruya Industrial Areas and or the future industrial area at Surf Beach (near the tip). These businesses should not take public waterfront land.
• Aquatic club facilities should be built on land already alienated. The clubs could acquire private waterfront properties or redevelop existing waterfront restaurants, etc.

Thank you once again for the invitation to comment. If you would like to discuss any of these matters please phone 4471 5032

Jenny Edwards
Secretary,
The Coastwatchers Assoc Inc