Proposed Jet Ski Ban in the Pumiestone Passage.

[Poseidon]

19 January 2006
Council lobbies for total jet ski ban on precious Pumicestone Passage

Caloundra City Council will lobby the Environment Protection Agency to initiate action that will prohibit the use of jet skis in the Pumicestone Passage.

The Council response comes with the release of the Maritime Safety Queensland’s release of its draft “Guidelines for the Development of Marine Zone Proposals” for comment.

Caloundra City Mayor, Don Aldous, said the guidelines were drafted in conjunction with a Local Government Association of Queensland working group on which Council was represented.

“The guidelines aim to help Councils develop criteria for the creation of watercraft exclusion zones in areas where they negatively impact on the community or the environment,” Cr Aldous said.

“And while Council is supportive of these guidelines, we would prefer and think it more appropriate, that the rather than a series of no go zones, the whole of the passage remain a jet ski free area.

“Council will advise the Director of Maritime Safety Queensland of its decision.”

Caloundra City Deputy Mayor and division 2 Councillor, Anna Grosskreutz, said the EPA as the regulatory authority for environmental issues, needed to take on the responsibility of maintaining the Passage as an internationally recognised marine park.

“The EPA have remained silent on this issue yet they should be the lead agency when it comes to protecting something of such valuable environmental significance,” Cr Grosskreutz said.

“The passage has been acknowledged for its environmental diversity and significance at an international level.
“That is why Council has moved that a prohibition of jet skis in the whole passage, rather than in zones, by the State Government would be required if it is to be truly enjoyed and appreciated as a marine park.

“Only with a complete jet ski ban by the EPA does this Council believe that the safety of the community and this environmentally significant waterway, will be preserved.”

Division 10 Councillor, Greg Singh, said Council does not currently have any authority to police watercraft on the passage or any other water body within the City.

“It doesn’t matter if its house-boats or jet skis we don’t have those policing powers,” Cr Singh said.

“Even with these draft guidelines, extensive community consultation will be required before marine zones can be recommended to the State and if they are approved, we will have to somehow regulate them in the same way that we regulate other breaches of an environmental nature – by reporting them.

“This will mean more Council resources and in the case of jet skis operating in a no-go zone, this type of regulation is ineffective once the jet ski operator has packed up and gone home.”

Cr Singh said a study of the Passage will be put together by collating all relevant local, state, national and international documentation on the waterway. The information will be used to lobby the EPA.

A move will also be made to establish an inter-governmental committee (local, state and federal government representatives) with a view to developing a formal co-operative agreement to help manage the activities that take place on the Passage.

[Poseidon]

Could mean peace and quiet at last........

[Derek_Bullock]

I think a warning is in order here. They are talking Marine National Parks here. Marine National Parks wont just stop at jet skis, next its recreational fishers.

Part of Pumicestone Passage is already a green zone where fishing is banned. Thats not a bad thing as the area is definately a breeding ground but watch out for the rest of it.


Derek

[RobSee]

I can see their point - in banning the jet skis.

The way they hoon around the north end of the passage is akin to racing motor bikes up and down the golden beach esplanade

[rough_shag]

I have lived in the area around Bribie for 25yrs and remember the great fishing and crabbing to be had in the mangroves in and around Dux creek before they bulldozed it to build houses for the wealthy-where was the epa then? answer- in the pockets of the rich businessmen/pollies responsible for Pacific Harbour!.The hoons on jetskis are totally ignorant of any rules of the water and regularly act in very dangerous ways such as doing figure 8s in front of boat ramps etc etc and for this attitude they should be banned for sure but maybe actually policing them with strict fines would be a better way to 'teach' them the dangers.It will be a sad day if they ban fishing in the passage.