ON Tuesday just before 7pm, we were swimming in the small nook of the Murray, near the Albury swimming pool, where the Riverina Highway ends and meets the river.
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There were two adults and three children in the water when two jet- skis went roaring past.
I don’t mean merely speeding, I mean roaring.
Aside from the obvious noise pollution, fuel pollution and the disturbance to river life, this was a very scary incident when you consider had one of us been venturing out a bit beyond this quiet cove, it would be highly likely we would have been run over.
I tried to look online for what the limits are on boats/jet-skis, to no avail.
That whole area around Noreuil to Wonga Wetlands is enjoyed by many Border region folk who find peace and respite from urban jobs in and by the tranquillity of the river.
I’m not sure it’s worthwhile for two people on jet-skis to jeopardise and ruin that tranquillity for everybody else, along with the risk of maiming a swimmer.
The river is a glorious life-saving and life-giving park area that sustains our little big community.
Motorcycles are not allowed through the Botanic Gardens, nor through any park in Melbourne or Sydney so I am curious to know what is the pressure or motivation to allow motorised vehicles in this section of the river.
“Sharing” is not the issue; one person on a noisy, motorised boat is not at risk of injury even if there’s many swimmers enjoying the river; It’s the swimmer who is at risk.
And our prime tourist attraction of a quiet relaxing river is extinguished.
— RUBY ROWAT,
South Albury
