Position Statement

Proposed Wake Ban for parts of the Murray River between Bundalong and Corowa

OUTLINE

  • There is a strong possibility that wake inducing boating activities will be banned, as a trial, in parts of the above-mentioned sections of the Murray River.

  • The Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) appears to be in support of the trial ban, which is set to be imposed by Roads & Maritime Services for NSW (RMS) and the Minister Melinda Pavey.

  • The main rational for the proposed trial ban is erosion, said to be caused in part by boat created wake.

  • BIAV has uncovered what it understands to be contradictory evidence, from MDBA’s own documentation, that indicates the main cause of the erosion is river management (raising and lowering depth levels and the volume of water moving 24/7), not boat induced wake.

Meanwhile, the ban, if enacted will have serious implications for –

  • Wakeboard enthusiasts

  • Several BIAV member businesses in the wakeboarding sector, including some fear of exit from the Victorian marketplace in terms of manufacture and supply

  • Service providers

  • Tourism operators in the area

  • An overall social and economic impact that would be devastating for the region and for the wider boating industry, considering the flow on affects.

BIAV POSITION/ACTIONS

  • BIAV believes that the science is absolutely non-conclusive and the proposed trial ban should not proceed.

  • BIAV is working with local manufacturers and service providers, as well as with BIA in Sydney, to influence an alternate outcome.

  • BIA is now, on behalf of BIA and BIAV making submissions and approaches to the Minister in an attempt to thwart this proposed trial ban.

Updates

October 2019 -

OUTCOMES

  • No Ban but the MDBA and NSW RMS still want it!

River Murray (Corowa to Ovens junction) Erosion Management Committee member and world champion wakeboarder, Travis Osborne reported via social media that the secret committee had recently met and that there was insufficient evidence to further consider the ban on wakeboarding on the Murray River between Corowa and Bundalong: “At this stage there is still some uncertainty around the [erosion] data and due to this we get another 12-month reprieve”

BIAV will continue to actively monitor this situation.

November 2018 -

OUTCOMES:

  • NSW Roads and Maritime backs away from the Wakeboarding Ban

“Roads and Maritime have advised that the proposed restrictions are not being implemented. Moving forward any options for change will be informed by community consultation”. “Following community feedback, it is clear that more work needs to be done and evidence gathered in key areas including vessel operations, incidents and compliance, and erosion, to inform the need and merits of any options for change”

“While further work is being done, the Murray-Darling Basin Authority will continue to gather appropriate data related to the River Murray between Corowa and the Ovens River junction”

Reference: Community input instrumental in shaping Murray River Erosion plan

February 2018 -

NSW Roads and Maritime Service (NSW RMS) consultation received over 300 submissions on the proposed management plan. NSW RMS are now considering the feedback for the development of a new Trial Erosion Management Plan.

Reference: River Murray (Corowa to Ovens junction) Erosion Management Plan