Ted Bentley's Swan River Trust Submission :
Boating for the future - Swan and Canning Rivers
It would be inappropriate to embark upon lengthy, complex and expensive
means of controlling the wash generated by boating activities before
establishing that such is the best option economically, socially and environmentally.
Typical of matters that should be considered are:
a) What is the proportion of WA registered boats
that use the rivers upstream compared with
the total number of boats registered?
b) What is the frequency of trips on average by users?
c) What real inconvenience would it cause to boat owners
if boating in sensitive areas was to be stopped?
d) What impact does boat operation in the upper reaches have on others?
e) Are other people deterred from using the river for other activities
due to the wash and the turbulence?
f) Is there any significant economic benefits derived
from boating activities upstream?
If so, to what extent?
Is it enough to justify the cost of the damage control needed?
g) Would the money required to control damage serve the community better
if it were used to enhance more passive activities?
No doubt there are many other matters to consider.
Objections will be raised of course if access be denied
and a few predictable ones follow, with countering arguments:
1) Access to fishing spots Provide a few more small boat ramps
Allow boats with low power electric motors.
2) Dinghies used by sporting Make permits available
activity trainers (like rowing)
3) Access to (private) moorings Make permits available
4) Access to Maylands slipway Make permits available
5) Wine tourist ferries Modern designs make wash low enough to be acceptable
From my observations as a local resident and boat owner since 1964,
I predict the outcome will reveal that while ALL boat owners will protest
the right to access upstream, very few do so and those that do, usually
do so only on a few occasions. The novelty wears off very quickly due
to the speed restrictions.
Any economic benefit derived from boating upstream is too little to justify
the cost of the action required to make it acceptably less damaging to the
environment and the enjoyment of others.
E. A. Bentley
February 17 2008
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