But the Murray Darling Basin Authority feels these water activities are undermining environmental work that is similarly costly.

The debate over the Murray River (Corowa to Ovens junction) erosion management plan is growing even before the draft is released for public consultation on December 1. Most contentious is a three to five year trial that restricts wake enhancing boating.

Malibu Boats Pty Ltd employs more than 60 people at its North Albury factory, with general manager Price Taylor saying a ban would affect their operations and those of their supply chain.

“The obvious impact would be loss of sales which equals loss of jobs,” he said.

“That’s being very blunt; once word gets out there, people get scared.

“I do know that our dealers are concerned and some of them said they’ll hold off due to that uncertainty.

“You could get down to the point where it just makes no sense to build boats here anymore and they import them, and I do not ever want to even think about that.”

Mr Taylor said the authorities had not discussed their plans with Malibu Boats until he requested a meeting with Member for Albury Greg Aplin.

“Malibu in Albury is Australia’s largest manufacturer of ski, wake and surf boats and we have not been consulted on this,” the general manager said.

MDBA executive director, river management, Andrew Reynolds said although other factors also contributed to erosion, the trial aimed to test their belief the wash had a significant impact.

“(Environmental) works are very rapidly undermined and eroded and so the investment we’ve made, which is tens of millions of dollars over a number of years is being undermined,” he said.

“We hope that some of that boating activity will move to waterways, lake areas, that are a bit more suited to it, narrow-ish rivers are not ideal.”

Mr Taylor said the ban discriminated against one type of water sport in a popular location and could lead to further restriction.

“Once they start in this area, what’s the next area, and what’s the next area, until you completely shut it down,” he said.

Mr Reynolds said the authority wished to hear people’s concerns during the summer consultation to tailor the trial appropriately.

“Maybe undertake actions that limit the impacts where we can,“ he said.

“But we’re still very keen to actually restrict the use of these boats in this particular region of the river.”