Boating Industry Association contests Murray watersports ban

The Boating Industry Association of Victoria (BIAV) has questioned the Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) and NSW Roads and Maritime Service (NSW RMS) regarding scientific advice from the draft River Murray Erosion Management Plan consultation that appears to be contrary to some of the information that is filtering to the community and industry.

“When the MDBA released the April 2017 document, which indicated to readers that the erosion was caused by powerboats, the document, we understand, provided photographic content of erosion that was not in a towed water sport zone,” said BIAV CEO Steve Walker.

“Our concerns were heightened when the NSW Roads and Maritime Minister, Melinda Pavey, before public consultation, was quoted in the media that the towed watersport ban would occur regardless of consultation.

“The impact of this proposed ban on our industry, on tourism for the area, and on the regional community will be so large and destructive and we were greatly surprised by the statement and are rightfully concerned,” Walker added.

BIAV CHASING THE SCIENCE
BIAV wrote to MDBA in September 2017 to ask for the science that had been used to provide evidence for the document: Bank erosion along the River Murray between Hume Dam and the Ovens Junction.

The MDBA’s response was: "we don’t provide papers for people under most circumstances but encourage them to do their own research using the usual methods.”

In November last year, BIAV lodged a freedom of information request for the MDBA to provide access to minutes and papers, reports and correspondence of the Advisory Group for Hume to Yarrawonga Waterway Management (AGHHYM) meetings in 2016.

The MDBA subsequently provided 17 documents on 29th January 2018, that included the NSW Department of Primary Industries Office of Water’s presentation entitled ‘Advisory Group Meeting - River Murray works program Hume Dam to Lake Mulwala. November 2016’.

WAVE-INDUCED RIVER EROSION DECLINING
Slide 159 provides an analysis of river bank erosion monitoring across 100 sites over three years and provides six bank face erosion features — one of which is ‘wave induced notch’ erosion (i.e. erosion from wind and boat wash waves).

“It seems clear from the monitoring program results that powerboats have very little to do with erosion in this area and that river regulation is the culprit,” said Walker.

“It also seems clear, from the report that wave induced notch erosion is declining, while river regulation erosion is increasing each year.

“The science MDBA are putting out into the public consultation seems to not match the science we have obtained under FOI," Walker said.

This is the information that the BIA would like to have shared during any consultation and certainly during any decision making processes.

These reports are now on the BIAV website for interested parties to view and consider.

The Boating Industry Association of Victoria was formed in 1961 and is the peak body for the industry. The marine industry in Victoria contributes $4.5 billion to the state economy and employs over 17,700 full-time employees.

For all 17 documents, please contact Ben Scullin at (03) 8696-5600 or email ben@biavic.com.au.