AN impassioned plea for the Gunbower Creek to be open to use by all types of boats may be thwarted by safety considerations.
A proposed ban on specific larger wake-enhancing boats on the creek near Cohuna will not involve smaller craft, nor prevent wakeboarding.
Gannawarra Shire Council has proposed the ban despite opposition from 341 petitioners who submitted that the creek should be available for all to use safely.
The resolution, supported by all councillors, will now be presented to Maritime Safety Victoria, which will either approve or reject council’s decision.
Acceptance of the council proposal will result in the rule change being gazetted and infrastructure installed.
Petition organiser, Karen Clavin questioned council’s stance at its meeting on Wednesday and claimed that, although the petition was considered to be just one submission, it showed that “the vast majority” were opposed to any bans.
She later challenged council’s current creek management practices.
Shire infrastructure services director, Geoff Rollinson said in response to one question about other causes of bank erosion and contamination by cattle and cattle carcasses along the creek frontage that other agencies were responsible for environmental considerations.
“Maritime Services Victoria will determine whether we (council) cover safety concerns,” he said.
Mr Rollinson said that council had received 35 submissions from the public, including the petition with 341 signatories.
Two submissions supported a change to a 5-knot speed limit when the water level was low, four were opposed and 29 offered no comment.
No-one supported a ban on wakeboarding, 33 were opposed to a ban and two did not comment.
Thirteen submissions supported a ban on wake-enhancing vessels, 16 were against a ban and six offered no comment.
No submissions offered a view or comment on redefining the managed waterway.
The petition stated: “We object to the Gannawarra Shire Council’s proposal to ban wakeboards and wake-enhancing vessels on the Gunbower Creek at Cohuna. The creek should be available for ALL to use safely.”
Mr Rollinson said that the intention was not to ban smaller craft or wakeboards, but larger vessels that create larger wakes.
He said that council officers will continue to engage with other agencies and government bodies to investigate ways to reduce erosion along the designated waterway.
