Walk on Water if 4 knot limit for Gold Coast waterways

by Bob Wonders on 19 Jul 2007 Maritime Safety Queensland under fire over planned speed cuts on Gold Coast waterways. Boat owners, builders express 'fury' at proposed new 4 knot speed limit regulations cut speeds from six knots on the Gold Coast Broadwater and its many canals, down to walking speed.

Additionally, it plans also to slash the speed limit from 40 knots to a miserly 10 knots between Wavebreak Island, in the Broadwater, and the Logan River.

Maritime Safety Queensland claims the speed limitations are designed to prevent damaging wash and improve safety on the Broadwater, particularly involving those taking part in the many recreational pursuits such as sailboards, para-sailing, kayaking and canoeing, swimming and rowing.

The major recommendations put forward by Maritime Safety Queensland include;

• A reduction in the speed limit from six knots to four knots in the waters of all lakes, canals, creeks, boat harbours and marinas

• A reduction from 8m to 6m in the overall length of a vessel at which a speed limit becomes applicable

• The introduction of a 10 knot speed limit for vessels over 15m overall between Wavebreak Island and the Logan River mouth

• New or extended speed zones at Cabbage Tree Point, Jacobs Well, Tipplers Passage, the Coomera River and the Broadwater, south of Wavebreak Island.

Charles Dickson, president of the Gold Coast Marine Industry Association, described the proposed new laws as 'draconian.'

'The entire proposal put forward by Maritime Safety Queensland is horrendous,' he added.

Mr Dickson said the new laws if passed would impact on everybody, 'from the bloke with the 5m runabout to the 22m luxury motor yacht.'

He said that a journey from, say, Robina, on the Central Gold Coast, to the Broadwater took boaters about one-hour.

'If the speed is reduced to four knots they’ll be looking at a 90 minute journey just to make it to open water,' he explained.

Mr Dickson said the association would be tabling a submission outlining its concerns.

'If the local water police had adequate resources they could effectively monitor the current speed limit and these proposed get tough regulations would not be necessary,' he added.

Local boat owners were equally outraged.

Mr Jared Daniel said he was 'dismayed' at the prospect of speeds being reduced.

'There are clowns who ruin it for everyone, but they are very much in the minority and it would make more sense to tackle them than punish everyone,' he said.

'If this new legislation is put in place it will have a disastrous effect on local business, everything from boat hire services to major cruise companies,' he added.

Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister Paul Lucas said the new legislation had been put forward because traffic on the water had undergone significant growth.

There are now more than 28,300 vessels registered on the Gold Coast, a 28 percent increase since 2002.

The largest sector to increase since 2002 has been that of luxury vessels exceeding 10m – a jump of 47 percent.
Mr Lucas said that Maritime Safety Queensland had been reviewing current speed limits and regulations and wanted to ensure there were appropriate measures in place to manage water activities.

'They, together with water police and the Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol have reviewed safety issues and have also looked at advice from the boating public and the community in general,' he said.

'There are a number of topics to be addressed, among them the interaction between larger vessels and other waterway users, allied with general safety concerns,' he added.

Peta-Kaye Croft, Broadwater MP, felt it was important that the boating industry and boat owners should be consulted.

Many local owners believe government inaction on dredging the Broadwater has led to Maritime Safety Queensland’s proposals.

'It is well known that there is less wash when the water is deeper,' Charles Dickson explained.

'The State Government’s continual refusal to admit the urgency of dredging the Broadwater is nothing more than a disgrace.

'If nothing is done one of the Gold Coast’s major attractions will be virtually destroyed.

'We won’t need speed limits – people will be able to stroll across the Broadwater at walking speed,' he declared.
Maritime Safety Queensland’s report is available for comment and submissions will be accepted until August 17.