2021-01-18 GC - Item 2 - Attachment 3 - Consultation Report River Plan Version 2 (2019-20)

               -    One is far more likely to see jet skis rather than dolphins from Dolphin Point and their prevalence must surely be associated with reduced numbers of the
                    dolphin, along with turtles and other marine life.

Private   More effort to ensure compliance of current marine zone.

Private   Jetski's (PWC) restrictions should be abolished.
                -    I have seen small boats behaving far worse in the river.
                -    And why can ski boats operate in the river and not Jetski's (PWC)?
                -    I have been down the Gold Coast and there are many Jetski's in operation and there are far more people living on the water down there.
                -    If the council is going to restrict Jetski's (PWC) why not all restrict all motorized vessels on the river.
                -    I support protecting the river but picking and choosing which vessels are allowed to use and enjoy the river doesn't seem fair and then to not even police
                     the vessels you allow.

Private   Jet ski area to be extended to the Tewantin boat ramp.

Private   Address the need to allow jet ski in the river marine zone.
              -    A ski boat does a lot more damage to the bank then a jet ski.

Private   As you are aware, the Department of Transport and Main Roads (DTMR) recently commissioned a report that studied the current and future demand for publicly
          accessible recreational boating facilities within the Noosa Shire Council area over the next 20 years.
              -     The Demand Forecasting Study (2017) identified that the key issues relating to existing boating facilities included overcrowding, capacity and safety.
              -     DTMR has therefore recommended as a matter of priority the construction of new boat ramps to meet current and future demand.
              -     I think DTMR’s proposal to increase boating facilities makes good sense considering the overall increase in population and recreational boating and fishing
                    in the area.
              -     I note that Council has dismissed any option for additional boating facilities despite the heavy and rapidly increasing demand.
              -     It seems that Council’s aim is to increase their authority in river management and compliance but there no support for fairer access to facilities for jet ski
                    enthusiasts.
              -     The jet ski has become the 'vessel of choice' in recent years for fishing due to the difficulties crossing the bar and the difficulties accessing the only boat
                    ramp available in Noosaville.
              -     When events such as the Noosa Triathlon are on, jet ski users are effectively 'locked-out' from accessing the river as there are no alternative boat ramps
                    that can legally be used.
              -     People using jet skis for fishing are not those ratbags screaming up and down the river.
              -     We generally head off-shore to fish and return a few hours later.
              -     We are not the nuisance craft users that Council should be targeting.
              -     The current zoning prohibits jet ski use in the river west of the Noosa Waters canal inlet.
              -     This unfairly limits river access for jet ski users, particularly given many boaties have shifted to fishing equipped jet ski for fishing purposes.
              -     This pushes boaties and other craft users with trailers into local streets, consuming high demand parking areas.
              -     Can you please consider extending the personal watercraft zone further up the river into Tewantin?

Private   I am a local jet skier and my family, friends and I have been boating, skiing, swimming and enjoying the Noosa River for over 30 years and to this day am on the
          water every week if not more. For all of that time we have also water skied and wake boarded behind the jet skis which is a very healthy sport and as a family we
          have enjoyed it throughout our generations.

          My parents water skied regularly in the Noosa River too but because someone says they do not like jet skis we are not being given our right to use our river as
          everyone else does. We cannot water ski behind our ski now in our river and we live here.

          We are also very involved in the Variety Jet Ski Group, over 15 years, and they raise a lot of money for kids every year. There are good guys out there too that ride
          jet skis. We are also very concerned to see first-hand the dangers of what is currently happening in our river on jet skis with them water skiing in the ocean as they
          cannot use the river and also worried about the current regulations of jet skis not allowed past the point of Noosa Waters inlet, no 3.1.1 in the Noosa River Plan Draft
          as it seems to be discrimination.

          When these rules to ban jet skis originally came into the Noosa River Plan I understand to a point as the jet skis were two stroke, noisy and there are many residents
          on the river that may have complained. The current situation is very different as follows:

               -    For many years now the jet skis are four stroke and quieter than most boats on the river which means residents are not subject to heavy boat noises.
               -    Jet Skis also give less wake than most other watercrafts which helps save the banks of the river.
               -    Jet Skis have nothing on the bottom that can harm the sea and river life such as a motor on a boat than hangs into the water. (I recently witnessed a large
                    turtle in the ocean with a broken back)
               -    The jet skis also give out less harmful omissions to the river which destroys life.
               -    Jet skis can access places that a lot of boats cannot which means they can save lives in shallow areas, get to residents homes easily as residents are
                    restricted and have to sell their jet ski or drive to a boat ramp if they life on the river.
               -    Jet Ski owners should have the right to use the ski zone as does everyone else.
               -    Jet Ski owners not only have a boat license but also an added qualification, the jet ski license which means they are more qualified than a boat owner.
               -    Jet Ski owners are also subject to not be able to use the boat ramps in Hilton Esplanade and also at the Tewantin Marina. As I live on Hilton Tce I am
                    forced to drive to the busy end of Noosaville at the boat ramp in which parking is far worse, more people, and more traffic. This is not right and as a
                    resident we should have the right to use these two boat ramps. If I and many others could use these boat ramps, we could put our ski in and drop our cars
                    off home as it is across the road, to save parks for others.
               -    How many will use jet ski area? Will there be too many jet skis in the ski zone. NO. The majority of jet skiers do not ski behind their ski and there is an
                    expense to getting the ski equipment for this so there is no real issue in getting to many there but the ones that do should be able to take their family and
                    friends and ski like everyone else as there is absolutely no reason why they should not.
               -    Education – River Plan – Jet Skis. It is great to see more of a presence on the water of regulation. There could more education in the dangers of the
                    shallow river and bar area on jet skis in particular. Every week I see jet skiers flying over the shallow areas between Noosaville and the Noosa Bar and
                    hold my breath especially when there are kids on board. These people have no idea of the dangers. There is definitely a major accident coming soon just
                    from this lack of knowledge. Education may be more signage, brochures at the marine shops, etc., even information centres, online, in rooms. More
                    discussion around this will save lives.
               -    Residents who live up the river need to either sell their jet ski or put it on a trailer, drive it to Noosaville to put in, park in one of the busiest tourist areas and
                    spend a lot of wasted time and inconvenience. Does this make sense to you?

          I propose that we open the jet ski zone up to the ski zone and give back to the local their right to use the ski zone and the two extra boat ramps at Noosa Marina and
          Hilton Esplanade without judgement or discrimination.

          Our family and friends are all courteous and follow the rules like the majority of the jet ski owners. We have also saved many lives, people, kids, over turned boats in
          the Noosa Bar over these years with rips taking kids out and many people being thrown out of their boats. We also have educated people at the boat ramp and in the
          water on the rules of jet skis that are visiting as they are not aware of the rules. Only in the last couple of weeks I helped a young 12 year old get across the bar with
          his surfboard as he could not get back because of the current. Because I could go into the shallow water I could get to him. There are good guys on jet skis.

          As a local Jet skier and passionate about our Noosa River this is important because this proposal can help save lives, injuries and keep a balance between water
          craft rules and regulations as very rarely do we see any police to support us when idiots turn up and regularly with kids on the back.



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