Wakeboarders fear the decision to ban their sport from part of the Murray River is final, despite the idea remaining officially only a proposal.
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A draft erosion management plan for the river between Corowa and Ovens River junction is considering restricting high wash boat activities in a three to five year trial to start in 2018. A committee co-chaired by NSW Roads and Maritime Services and the Murray Darling Basin Authority developed the draft plan to manage the rate of erosion, with the details to be released for public comment on December 1.
Boating Industry Association of Victoria president Mark Crockford said RMS had not consulted widely and no socio-economic assessment had been conducted.
“It appears that a unilateral decision to proceed with removing towed water sports from this important area has already been made,” he said.
Mr Crockford said there were “glaring gaps” in the research being used to promote a ban.
“The MDBA’s own science tells us that all boats aren’t the cause of serious erosion,” he said. “The science tells us that river regulation and flooding are the causes.”
Member for Albury Greg Aplin said the committee had met with affected councils, government agencies and peak industry groups so far and further consultation would take place.
“I’ve heard it from the RMS chiefs themselves that they will consider all aspects before they will finish the plan,” Mr Aplin said. “It’s a draft, it can be amended according to the input. It’s only one form of boating, they’re not planning any restrictions, they tell us, on water skiing or fishing or general boating activities or swimming.
“They’re looking at methods to reduce the erosion and I think that’s a concern to us all, we’ve got to make sure that there’s a river that’s healthy and stays that way, but we also have to be aware of the tourism needs and try to meet them as best possible.”
Mr Crockford said NSW Maritime Minister Melinda Pavey should suspend the process until her department thoroughly analysed the impacts of the decision.