Four-knot zone is needed at Riverglen Marina, residents say

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Wake boats are upsetting marina residents and damaging the riverbank at White Sands, and Tom Koutsantonis is the only person who can stop them.

Residents hope the state Minister for Infrastructure and Transport will intervene to end years of disruption caused by high-powered, wave-producing speedboats and jet ski riders.

The banks of the River Murray at Riverglen Marina used to be straight and smooth, resident David Laing said; now they were uneven and littered with old tyres, exposed by the crashing waves created by passing vessels.

More and more trees’ roots had been exposed, risking the sort of riverbank collapses that last happened during the Millennium Drought.

The waves rocked marina residents’ houseboats, creating a genuine safety risk for elderly people who had chosen to retire to a boat rather than a house for cost-of-living reasons.

The owner of the Welcome Swallow Boathouse, a floating holiday home, said they had had guests check out early to “escape the chaos”.

Once in a while came the jet skiers who thought it was funny to buzz the back of the house boats and splash their back decks, or even try to touch their railings on the way past.

“By law they’re supposed to be 30 metres away from any vessel, but we’ve had them come past so close you can almost touch them off the swim deck,” maintenance worker David Fischer said.

“I love water sports, but there’s a time and place for it, and it’s not built-up places like this.”

What residents wanted, Mr Laing said, was for a four-knot zone to be created alongside Riverglen Marina, similar to the one at Sturt Reserve in Murray Bridge.

He suggested that the restricted zone start at Riverglen Reserve and end just past the mouth of the marina.

It could stretch 50 or 100 metres out into the river – about halfway across.

The creation of the zone could be accompanied by new signage and a targeted education campaign, and reviewed after 12 months.

SA Police and Marine Safety SA lack the resources they would need to monitor the entire length of the River Murray, so historically they have relied on public education, not regulation.

But that approach could only go so far, Mr Laing said.

He sought and received the support of Murray Bridge’s councillors at their meeting last week.

But his correspondence with the state government has been less encouraging.

Department ‘does not currently support’ four-knot zone

In a letter on January 30, Mr Koutsantonis advised that the state Department for Infrastructure and Transport “does not currently support” the idea of introducing a new four-knot zone at Riverglen Marina.

“However … the department will liaise with (the Murray Bridge) council to discuss designated areas for recreational activities in this area,” he said.

“Signs will be installed at boat launching areas near Riverglen Reserve and Marina, which will include four-knot speed limit messaging and a QR link to the Marine Safety South Australia website and its online tools to report incidents, check life jackets and check safety equipment.”

The state government took river safety seriously, he suggested, pointing to its recent launch of a new recreational boating safety strategy.

He encouraged residents to report any hoon behaviour to SA Police by calling 131 444.

Concerns about the impact of boats’ wake on the riverbank were outside his jurisdiction, he said – residents would have to contact the Department for Environment and Water instead.

Mr Laing hoped Mr Koutsantonis would reconsider.

“The majority of our permanent houseboats residents are elderly, and retired to this type of lifestyle for its peace and ambience,” he said.

“We love sharing our lifestyle, and encourage people to visit … but also ask for a safe lifestyle where we can live without fear.

“We have nothing against wake boats or jet skis, but when it comes to the safety and wellbeing of other river users, and the degradation of the river to the point of collapse, it’s time to make some decisions and consider the safety and welfare of our wildlife, residents and visitors.”

• Contact Tom Koutsantonis: Email minister.koutsantonis@sa.gov.au or call 7133 1100.
• Report a marine safety concern: Contact SA Police on 131 444, then visit www.sa.gov.au.