Eurobodalla Shire Council Banned water use at Boat Ramps

The Shire has moved from level 1 to level 3 water restrictions which comes into effect this Monday – December 2.

What that means is that there will be:

• No boat motor flushing at any of the Shires boat ramps
• No rinsing of your fish catch and cleaning of the tables at boat ramps.  The taps have been turned off.

The Shire state that if you wish to flush out your motor it has to be done over a grass area.  If you wish to wash the salt off your vessel that has to be done with a bucket but only between 6 and 8 am and 6 and 8 pm.  A final rinse with a trigger nozzel hose.

If you wish to clean the seagull encrusted fish cleaning tables that has to be done with a bucket using sea water.  Do not let it run back into the sea because that would be pollution under the Act.

Now we all want to save water and this is just one step in the right direction. Support this effort and make suggestion on how other measures may be implemented.

Will you be able to take a shower after playing a sport at the venue?

What about taking a shower after a swim at one of the Shire's pools?

What happens in the local marina? Do they again have an exemption?

How can the Shire help the fisho’s?  

Install seawater pumps and connect them to the existing piping so that people you can clean the fish, tables and surrounds with good clean sea water fresh from the sea.

Now that's a good idea and would save the Shire the ongoing maintenance of the boat ramps they so dislike.

Budget Blow-out at the Batemans Bay Bridge?

The BB Boaters Association Inc represents all forms of recreational and commercial activity on the water of the South Coast of NSW.  Our members enjoy the waters off the town of Batemans Bay as well as travelling the tranquil reaches of the Clyde River to the historic trading port of Nelligen. 

In 1956 a steel vertical lift truss bridge with a maximum height of 34 m was built across the Clyde at Batemans Bay.  The lifting span could be raised on request when both recreational and commercial vessel wished to travel these waterways. 

The Clyde River was first found to be navigable in 1854 and has been a vital link from up-stream to the sea since that time.

 

In 2015 the Local Member and then treasurer Hon Andrew Constance announced that a new concrete bridge would be built to span the Clyde River at Batemans Bay to replace the current bridge due to “road traffic delays”. 

The height of this new bridge is only 12 metres.  This will deny the continued access by trading and commercial vessels plus most recreational watercraft to Nelligen.  We believe this unilateral decision by the NSW government will breach our rights of free passage under Maritime Law and may contravene a section of the Australian Constitution. 

The final design for the bridge was announced in 2018 and John Holland, a wholly owned Chinese company, won the tender for the construction for the sum of $274 million. 

The Association understands that the current built schedule is at least six months behind planning due in part to a few significant accident which has shut down the Mogo concrete manufacturing facility.  

It is our understanding that the Transport for NSW Departmental flood modeling due diligence report undertaken by GHD has been critically reviewed and brought into question.  The visual evidence of water flowing over the large concrete "boat" structure atop the in-river piles is quite different from the modelling results and that is only at a spring tide and not during a flood. Photo shows average tidal condition.

There appears to be a blow-out in the budget with speculation that it may well be three times the allocated budget. The Association will investigate if the budget for this roads and Infrastructure project has in-fact been adjusted which, if it is the case, will see NSW taxpayers having to fund any shortfalls.

The Foreshore Master Plan

The Master Plan and Activation Strategy is a BOLD and BRAVE document put together by the Tasmanian consultants with some great ideas.  Do read the detail and complete the survey.  Their effort and that of the Council hands-on Council project manager should be congratulated for all the effort this weekend. Well done A.R. 

The process to select participants could have been improved and the advertising much wider and longer plus a schedule of pop-up events would have helped.
The consultants listened and explained their views.  Some good others ..very poor like closing the south side boat ramp is not accepted but many other ideas are good.
The choice between a "Youth Central" and an existing boat ramp is not an either or choice as per the survey form - so dont be fooled. Object.
The boat ramp is not a decision made by Council.  It is Dept of Lands paid for in the most part by boat licence fees. So dont any Council employee think that it will be closed down without either a big fight or some negotiation of an off-set for alternative facilities.
Like what?  More floating pontoons at say the oyster farms jetty west of Lions Park.  Not a new idea.

So what next?
Will these ideas be negotiated away by the power that be? Will there be no money to go forward? Or will all the ideas be collated, dissected, reviewed and consolidated to pop out the answers that the powers that be and vested interests want?
Well take a bold step into the sunlight, be transparent, get moving and just do something NOW to show that the Council is serious about activating the foreshore and improving the water land interface.

Batemans Bay Foreshore - Ideas -- Whose ideas?

Council has denied the Boaters Association a site on the foreshore this weekend where they hope to promote ideas and event to activate the area.

The Association was actively involved in the Bridge Replacement Foreshore Committee and realised that many of the good ideas put forward during that process were going nowhere.

We wrote a document “A Game Changer for the Bay CBD” see here where we proposed floating pontoons parallel to the CBD and many water based activities to energise this great venue. This document was widely distributed to the Local Member, Hon Andrew Constance, the Shire and others. It was presented at a “Town Hall” meeting back in July of this year. The document reached the Shire’s consultants Inspiring Places who were employed to come up with a plan for the foreshore and how it could be a nucleus for activities and functions to stimulate the area. All contained in the Associations document.

The one-on-one discussions with the consultants was fruitful and insightful. They have experience in Tasmania and some great ideas BUT their brief had been limited by the inevitable vested interests along the foreshore.

The Association requested a meeting with Inspiring Place prior to this week-ends display of their recommendation so that we would not be in conflict with their ideas. This was denied by the Council employee.

The Association requested a stand on the foreshore during this week-end along with other Associations and business . This was denied because our desire to promote boating on the Clyde, the installation of floating pontoons and ideas for the CBD “does not align with their (Councils) purpose.”

One can only ask why is Council shutting out ideas and an Associations wishing to promote the Bay?

Furthermore in the current State of Emergency ahead of catastrophic fire warnings the Mayor can not find time to meet with the Association to brief her on the potential fire and safety dangers within the local Batemans Bay marina. The Department of Land alleges that the Fire Safety Equipment and certificates are non-compliant – a fact we have been raising for more than three years.

Is this just another attempt to stifle information and the Association’s attempt to make the waterfront a safe and vibrant place?

Batemans Bay - a potential unsafe zone

With the Batemans Bay marina a potential unsafe zone it now appear we have a further danger area during the busy holiday period. The bay itself.

Floating unlit dredging pipe extending from the Bay bar area right across the water to the middle of the inner bay area. In fact from the bar to the isolated danger mark north of the sand bank. Why is this a danger.

The Minister for Transport for NSW stated in 31 January 2019 “The Maritime Infrastructure Plan notes the importance of maintaining accessible navigation channels in key investment locations, including the Batemans Bay (Clyde River) entrance channel,” said Mr Constance. More on keeping navigation channels open next week.

Mr Constance goes on to say “NSW Government will invest almost $450,000 into the Clyde River entrance bar for dredging in the coming months” The Association believes this is money from boaters licences and fees managed by the Maritime Infrastructure Delivery Office and not other Government funds.

The Ministers' response was motivated by a petition raised by the Marina based on questionable assertions and data. It received only 461 responses.  The manager stated “Our local member has listened, acted and will deliver a project that puts the safety of local and visiting boaters at the fore.”

Well Minister act now for the safety of the boating public and delay the dredging until after the holiday period or until the GHD study finds out that happens to the sand within the bay.

The Marine Notice S01948 Navigation Restriction - Entrance Bar to the Clyde River, Batemans Bay - Dredging operations. Will soon be out of date.

The Notice states: The dredging operations are to take place from Monday 7 October 2019 to Wednesday 20 November 2019. The notice states” Dredging operations will occur during daylight hours only, however the dredge and associated equipment may remain in position outside times of operation.” Yes at night.

Further “Vessels are required to maintain a safe distance and speed from the works” a fine of about $5,500 could apply if you contravene this. So when crossing this dangerous bar keep your speed down because you may impact these works rather that adjust your speed for the safety of the crew of a vessel crossing the bar. That is just good seamanship.

No work has started on dredging the bar.

So if it continues it will take place during the busy holiday period and be a danger to boat leaving hanging rock boat ramp and going to sea.

See our post https://www.facebook.com/BBBoaters/posts/807269843020815?__tn__=K-R

Furthermore, as the Association has stated previously it should be delayed until the GHD modelling and investigation is complete. (This consultancy is funded by Transport for NSW) The Association has for a long time held that introducing the sand back into the bay will have dangerous unintended consequences that could cause water inundation of the locals properties and even the CBD.

Minister Constance: You are responsible for these projects, please delay the dredging now, not only for safety reason but wait until your consultancy has some answers. The Association is still waiting for answers from our Critical Analysis of flood damage caused by the new bridge given to RMS and your office.

More dangers within the Bay and Bar

With the Batemans Bay marina a potential unsafe zone we now appear to have a further danger area during the busy holiday period.

Floating unlit dredging pipe extending from the Bay bar area right across the water to the middle of the inner bay area. In fact from the bar to the isolated danger mark north of the sand bank. Why is this a danger.

The Minister for Transport for NSW stated in 31 January 2019 “The Maritime Infrastructure Plan notes the importance of maintaining accessible navigation channels in key investment locations, including the Batemans Bay (Clyde River) entrance channel,” said Mr Constance. More on keeping navigation channels open next week.

Mr Constance goes on to say “NSW Government will invest almost $450,000 into the Clyde River entrance bar for dredging in the coming months” The Association believes this is money from boaters licences and fees managed by the Maritime Infrastructure Delivery Office and not other Government funds.

The Ministers' response was motivated by a petition raised by the Marina based on questionable assertions and data. The manager stated “Our local member has listened, acted and will deliver a project that puts the safety of local and visiting boaters at the fore.”

Well Minister act now for the safety of the boating public and delay the dredging until after the holiday period or until the GHD study finds out that happens to the sand within the bay.

The Marine Notice S01948 Navigation Restriction - Entrance Bar to the Clyde River, Batemans Bay - Dredging operations. Will soon be out of date.

The Notice states: The dredging operations are to take place from Monday 7 October 2019 to Wednesday 20 November 2019. The notice states” Dredging operations will occur during daylight hours only, however the dredge and associated equipment may remain in position outside times of operation.” Yes at night.

Further “Vessels are required to maintain a safe distance and speed from the works” a fine of about $5,500 could apply if you contravene this. So when crossing this dangerous bar keep your speed down because you may impact these works rather that adjust your speed for the safety of the crew of a vessel crossing the bar. That is just good seamanship.

No work has started on dredging the bar.

So if it continues it will take place during the busy holiday period and be a danger to boat leaving hanging rock boat ramp and going to sea.

See our post https://www.facebook.com/BBBoaters/posts/807269843020815?__tn__=K-R

Furthermore, as the Association has stated previously it should be delayed until the GHD modelling and investigation is complete. (This consultancy is funded by Transport for NSW) The Association has for a long time held that introducing the sand back into the bay will have dangerous unintended consequences that could cause water inundation of the locals properties and even the CBD.

Minister responsible for these projects delay the dredging now not only for safety reason but wait until your consultancy has some answers. We are still waiting for answers from our Critical Analysis of flood damage caused by the new bridge.