TWEEDCOUNCILWANTSTOCLOSESECTIONSOFTHERIVERTOTOWINGIMPORTANTINFORMATIONFORYOUTOREAD

TWEEDRIVERESTUARYCOASTALMANAGEMENTPROGRAMME(CMP)SUMMARYOFKEYISSUES

BYTWEEDRIVERUSERSINCORPORATEDEXECUTIVEBACKGROUND:TheTSCTweedRiverEstuaryCoastalManagementProgram(CMP)2020-2030willproviderecommendationsforthefuturemanagementofthisimportantwaterwayandwillfollowNSWgovernmentguidelinesforcoastalmanagement.TheTweedRiverEstuaryisthetidalsectionoftheriver,a35kmstretchbetweentheBrayParkWeiratMurwillumbahandtherivermouthatTweedHeads.TweedRiverUsersInchavebeeninvolvedintheprocessforseveralyears.WearecollectiveofresidentsandbusinessoperatorswhoseobjectivesaretopromotetheinterestsofthecommunityforsaferboatingandimprovedinfrastructureandaccesstotheTweedRiver.WHEREAREWENOW:Acommunityvaluesreportwastabled2yearsagowhichwasasurveyof850peopleonlineand400overthephoneintohowtheyusetheriverandhowtheywouldliketoseeitusedinthefuture.ThisformedsomeoftheopinionintheCMPandnowisyouropportunitytoensureyourvoiceisheardespeciallyifyouagreewiththesilentmajorityofriveruserswhodon’twanttoseesectionsoftheriverclosedtotowingactivities.CertainTweedShireCouncillorshavemadeitclearthattheirpreferenceistoseetheentireriverclosedtomotorisedactivityandvessels.ThecommunityhasuntilOctober30th,2019tomaketheirsubmissionandthenitwillgotoCouncilandtheNSWministerforapprovalandendorsement.TheCMPisover240pagesandhereisasummaryofmainpointsyoucoulduseinyoursubmission.SUBMISSIONS:MostoftheCMPhasvalid,actionableobjectivesthatshouldbeendorsedandimplementedbutthereareseveralpointsthatshouldberemoved.Youareencouragedtokeepyoursubmissionpositiveandofferanalternatetoyourobjection.Item1:ACTIONE3PAGE77ofCMPDevelopapolicyonMotorisedWaterRecreationBusinessesandamendtheTweedLEP2014viaadditionofaclause,toallowfordefinitionandassessmentofMotorisedWaterRecreationBusinesses,withtheintentofbeingconsistentwiththeEnvironmentalValuesandObjectivesoftheTweedRiverEstuaryCoastalManagementProgram.Suchapolicywouldincludenon-commercialorganisedeventsincludingmultipleparticipantsusingmotorisedvessels.

Usingmotorvehiclesasanexample,thisactionisthesameastellingtheMorrisMinorClubofQLDtheycan'tuseaTSCpark,picnictables,toilets,binsandothercouncilassetsbecausetheyareanon-commercial,organizedeventwithmultipleparticipants.Ifthereare“groupsofmotorisedvesseloperators”thataredisturbingthelocalamenityoroperatingvesselsinanunsafeorillegalmanner,thenthereareexistingwaysofhandlingthisviaRMS/Waterwayswhomanagesafetyandregulationontheriver.Notonlyisthispolicyalmostimpossibletoregulateandmanagebutit’svaguewordingcouldleadtointerpretationsthatgroupsofpeoplewhocometocelebrateabirthdayorsimilareventarepreventedfromdoingso.WebelievethisactionisanoverreachbycouncilandnotinthespiritofwhattheOfficeandEnvironmentandHeritageisaskingcouncilstodevelopwithinCMP’s.

TRURESPONSE:Thisaction/clauseshouldberemovedfromtheCMPasthereisnonetbenefittothemanagementoftheriverorimprovementtouseramenityandsafetyifnon-commercialgroupswherebannedfromusingtheriver.

Item2:

ACTIVEUSEZONEPAGE44ofCMPActiveUseZone:UpstreamendofStottsIslandtoCommercialRoadboatramp,Murwillumbah-Thisreachisacknowledgedasahigh-speedtowingareaasitisshelteredfromprevailingwindsandhasagenerallyflatwatersurfaceinmostconditions.However,thereachissubjecttosevereerosion.Significantbankprotectionworkswillberequiredtoensurethatcontinuedwakegeneratingboatuseinthisareaissustainable,howeverbankstabilisationworksmustbedesignedandconstructedinawaythatprotectsvisualamenityandmaximisesecologicalbenefits.Thecreationofspeciallocationsfortowingsports,inconjunctionwithprotectedbanks,wassupportedby70%ofresidentsinthecommunitysurvey.NovesselsrestrictionsaboveexistingRoadsandMaritimeServiceregulationsareadvocatedinthisarea.ThereareinaccuraciesinthedatareportedwithintheCMPwhichmayleadthereadertobelievetheTSCproposedactionissupportedbyalargenumberofrespondentswheninfactitisn’t.WhilstTRUsupportthebankstabilisationworksweareconcernedabouthowthedataisbeenreported.Aspertable3.2below,70%ofphonerespondentssupportedthecreationofspeciallocationswhereasonly53%onlinesupportedthecreationofthesezones.TRUIncisconcernedthatthetoneandwordingofthisquestioncouldbeinterpretedassupportforthecreationofspeciallocationsfortowingsportswhichcouldalsobeinterpretedastheclosureofsectionsoftherivertocreatecharacterzonesisequallysupported.TheCMPshouldbechangedtoreflectthetrueresultsofthesurvey.

TRURESPONSE:BankstabilisationworksaresupportedalongtheriverbutthereisnosupporttostoptowinginareasidentifiedintheCMP.Wewouldsupportincreasedsignage,educationandregulationoftheriverassuppliedbythosewhomanagetheriver,RMS/Waterwaysashistoryhasshownincreasedawarenessprogrammeshaveimprovedboatingsafetyanddriverunderstandingoftheenvironment.Forexample;awarenesscampaignsaroundlifevestsandsafetyequipmenthaveseenanimprovementinvesseloperator’sbehaviour.Increasedawarenesscampaignsofpreferredtowingareaswouldbemorebeneficiallongtermthanimposingablankedbanoncertainactivities,andnotothers.

Item3:

L6CONFLICTBETWEENRIVERUSERSPAGE157ofCMPTheCMPstatesthatithascompletedseveraldetailedstudiestoaddressknowledgegaps.TRUdoesn’tfeelthisisthecasewhenthereareanumberofunsupportedassumptionsthathavebeenmadeintheCMP.Forexample…..Conflictbetweenriverusers–primarilyalackofseparationbetweencompatibleuses(e.g.towingversusnatureappreciation/conservation;andpoweredcraftversusswimming/diving).Thisissueisexacerbatedthrougharestrictednumberofaccesspoints,highdemandatexistingfacilitiesandnon-compliancewithexistingmanagementandregulations.Asclearlydemonstratedinthegraphsbelow,conflictofusesontheriverisn’talargeissueforthecommunityandonly9%or114peoplefromthe1263surveyedfeltitwasabigissuewhenaskedtorespondtocurrentorotherissuesontheriver,thesameamountofpeoplewhoareconcernedaboutreducinglitteranddebrisontheriver.Whenrespondentswereaskeddirectlyaboutuserconflictontheriveritwassplitdownthemiddlecloseto50/50,hardlyamajorissuewhenyouconsidersiltingupoftheriverandareductioninfishnumberswereseentobemoreimportant.TRUbelievesthereisbiasfromTSCwhenitcomestothisperceivedissueofriverconflictandtowingactivitieseventhoughthereisnodatatosupportTSC’spremiseinadditontothesurveynumberslikeboatingregistrations,locationusageontheriver,rivervesselcapacityorfiledreportsofconflictswithRMS/Waterways.Ontheland,whenapotentialissueisidentified,detailedtrafficreportsforvehiclesarecommisionedandusedtoestablishactions.TRU’saredisapointedthesamedepthofdetailisnotbeinggatheredandusedtoestablishaneedsbasistoclosedownsectionsoftherivertotowing.Councilsowndatafromthecommunitysurveyshowsthatonly5%or63respondantsfromthe1263inthesurveywanttoseeabanorlimitonwaterskiingorwakeboardingandTRUaremystifiedwhytheywanttoclosedownsectionsoftheriver,withtheassociatedtowingrestrictions,whenitisclearlynotsupportedbysurveyrespondantsorTweedShireratepayers.TheCMPaddressesuserconflictunderKEYISSUESandsummarisesitbysaying:• ThemainhistoricaluserconflictswerebetweenskiersandrowersintheCondongtoMurwillumbahstretch.Butmeasureshadbeentakentomanagetheseissuessothattheyarenolongeraproblem(seecurrentandpastmanagementbelow).Giventhereisaverylowratingforuserconflictontheriver(refertablesbelow)TRUisunsurewhythishasbeenhighlightedasapriorityforcounciltoaddressintheCMPgiventherearesomanymoreactionableissuesthatcommunityhasaskedforittoaddress.TRURESPONSE:TheCMPcontainsabiasofuserconflictasanissueontheriver.TRUbelievesthisisnotthecasefromourownpersonalexperiencesnorisitreflectiveinthecommunitysurvey.Itseemsthatthisperceptionofuserconflictisoneofthemotivatorsincreatingcharacterzonesandseekingthebanontowingactivities.WhilstTRUrespectthatsomepeopledoexperienceconflictandthatweshouldnotignorethoseconcerns,giventhelownumberofpeoplewhoidentifywiththisissueandthatthereisnoevidencefromRMS/MaritimetobackupthisdataorshowthereareyearonyearupwardtrendsthenreferencestothisasaKEYISSUEshouldbe‘toneddown’withintheCMP.TRUbelieveseducationandincreasedregulationoftheperceivedhotspotsand/orboatrampflyerdropsonaregularbasisarebetterlong-termsolutionstoreducinguserconflictontheriver.

How c.oncerned are you about the following aspec.ts of the river?

(r,"405)

■ Nol at all COIIC=t:d • Not vr,v conccmcd ■ Vitt)' conc rned

Olfflcu l tv accessing the river for recreational boating

The spread of rock walls for eros ion protection

Oifflcultv accessing public foreshore on the river bank

Confll,u between passive and motorised recreational uses

Lack of foreshor vegetation

Siltation and/or s;ind bulld up

Poor water quality

Bank erosion

Re duct io n in fish numbers or species

Table 3.1: Levels of concern, CATI vs. online Low/no concern High concern

CATI Online CATI Online

Siltation and/or sand build up 43% 55% 57% 45% Bank erosion 27% 37% 73% 63% Reduction in fish numbers or species 25% 38% 75% 62% Poor water quality 44% 49% 56% 51%

Lack offoreshore vegetation 53% 50% 47% 50%

Difficulty accessing the river for recreational boating 77% 63% 23% 37%

Conflicts between passive and motorised recreational uses 49% 45% 51% 55%

The spread of rock walls for erosion protection 65% 61% 35% 39%

Difficulty accessing public foreshore on the river bank 69% 58% 31% 42%

Based on your ob servation s, do you beli eve the re ar e an y ot her curr ent issu es or p r obl e m s w i th t he Tw eed Ri v er?

(n=1263, CATI+ online, multiple onswer:; ollowed}

Improved occe:;s-focilities/mointenance

Limiting riller/bank erosion

Resollllng con/I/ct between users

Reducing litter/debris/pollution entering the river

Qvercommerciolisotion/growth

Riller speed limit/speedboats

Bonning or limiting jetskling

Banning or limiting water skiing/wake boording

Good as it is/no issue5

Better enforcement of rules

Flooding effect5 ond mitigation £. Overuse of river by Queens/anders '.Wl\:.

Edurotion/eco conservation :a;:;.2EZ

NB • 4"4

of rtS pondents

Problem with siltation --

Weed/pest control

Other

f'rs pondtd •no· or chose not to an.swrr

2" 4% 6" 10" 12% 14" 16,

46 " 31"

35 " 34"

19 " 23"

14 " 29"

47"

Item4:

E1CREATIONOFCHARACTERZONESPAGE54ofCMP

Recommend to NSW Roads and Maritime Services that the character zones recommended in the Recreational Use Strategy be reflected in the review of the Tweed Estuary Boating Plan 2010, in particular, the inclusion of the following restrictions: • create a no-tow zone within the “Conservation Zone “ (Stotts Island) to prevent wake damaging sensitive environmental habitat, whilst increasing the areas suitability for tranquil and passive recreational uses; and • extending the no ski/tow zone within the “Restoration Zone” (Bray Park Weir to Commercial Road Boat Ramp) to reduce the risk of further wake induced bank erosion, and increase the likelihood of existing erosion being able to be stabilised with bioengineered works, whilst increasing the areas suitability for tranquil and passive recreational uses.

TRUdonotsupportthecreationofcharacterzonesintheCMPasshownasE1onpage54.

ThecreationofCharacterZoneswillnotimproveboatingsafetyontheriverforvesselsthattow,infactitwillcreatemoreturningpointsforvesselspotentiallyputtingtheminconflictwithothervesselsandotherriverusersasboatshavetoturnawayfromwhatwouldbeanogozonefortowingactivitiesbutathruzoneforvesselsnottowing.

TheCMPandotherTSCdocumentsincorrectlycategorisestowingactivitiesasa‘riskoffurtherwakeinducedbankerosion’wheninfactavesseltowingsomeoneonatube,kneeboard,ski,wakeskateandevenawakeboardcanproduceless‘waveforce’thanacommercialtouristvesselorfishingboat.TRUhasdemostratedthisinpreviouspresentationsandwearehappytodemonstratethiswithalivedemonstration.

Thereisnosupportforthecreationofcharacterzonesinthecommunitysurveyandthemajorityofrespondentssupporttowingactivities.

NationalParksandWildlifewhomanagetheStottsIslandreservehavepublishedthefollowingmanagementplanfortheIsland:

SoilandHydrology:Thebanksoftheislandareerodingontheupstreamsidewhilstdepositionisoccurringonthedownstreamside.SiltationanderosionhaveprobablyincreasedfollowingsettlementandlandclearingintheTweedValley.

DesiredOutcomes:Naturalerosionandhydrologicalprocessesareallowedcontinue.ThereisnodisturbancetofringingnativevegetationonStottsisland.

TRURESPONSE:ThereisnocommunitysupportforthecreationoftheproposedCharacterZonesandTRUdon’tbelievethecreationofacharacterzonewillimproveboatingsafetyasitwillconcentratetowingactivitiesinasmallersectionoftheriver.Bankerosionisnotprimarilycausedbytowingactivitieswhichisonlyasmallcontributingfactorwhencomparedtotidal,wind,animalandfloodmovements.Theproposedzonewillnot“increasetheareassuitabilityfortranquilandpassiverecreationaluses”whenothermotorvesselswillstillhaveaccesstothisareawhichcanstillcreateasbigorbiggerwakeforcethanavesselthatistowing.TRUbelieveseducationandincreasedregulationoftheperceivedhotspotsand/orboatrampflyerdropsonaregularbasisarebetterlong-termsolutionstoreducingtowingactivitiesintheStottsIslandareaIFitisprovedthatthereisasafetyissueforvesseloperators.

Item5:

E1CREATIONOFRESTORATIONZONEPAGE54

Extendingthenoski/towzonewithinthe“RestorationZone”(BrayParkWeirtoCommercialRoadBoatRamp)toreducetheriskoffurtherwakeinducedbankerosion,andincreasethelikelihoodofexistingerosionbeingabletobestabilisedwithbioengineeredworks,whilstincreasingtheareassuitabilityfortranquilandpassiverecreationaluses.(refertablebelow)TRUdonotsupporttheextensionofanotowzoneintheCommercialRdBoatRampareaasshownintheCMPThisactionwillnotimproveriversafetyorreducetheriskoffurtherbankerosionasprovedbyvariousreportsthatshowtidal,wind,animalandfloodmovementsarethemajorcontributortobankerosion.

TRUbelievesthattheclosureofthisareaasanotowzonewillpushtowingactivitydowntherivertowardstheMurwillumbahRowingClubareacreatinganincreaseinvesselandusertrafficwhentheidealmanagementofuseractivityistospreaditoutacrosstheriverandnotconcentrateactivitiesinacertainarea.Weareofthebeliefthatthereisnonetgainbyclosingthisareaandwillcreatesafetyissueforallriverusers.WeendorseextendingthetowableareaupstreamfromtheDunbibleCreektoBrayPark.

TRURESPONSE:Thereisnocommunitysupportforthecreationoftheproposedrestorationzone.TRUdoesnotbelievethecreationofarestorationzonewillimproveboatingsafety,infactitwillconcentratetowingactivitiesdownstreaminfrontoftheRowingClubprecinct.Bankerosionisnotprimarilycausedbytowingactivitiesandisasmallcontributingfactorwhencomparedtotidal,wind,animalandfloodmovements.Theproposedrestorationzonewillnot“increasetheareassuitabilityfortranquilandpassiverecreationaluses”whenothermotorvesselswillstillhaveaccesstothisareawhichcanstillcreateasbigorbiggerwakeforcethanavesselthatistowing.

CLOSINGCOMMENTS:

Inclosing,TRUbelievesthatpublishingtheCMPpriortoanupdatedTweedEstuaryBoatingPlanfromtherelevantNSWagencyisprematureasTSCarenotthegoverningauthorityoftheriverwhenitcomestosafetyandregulation.FurthermoreTRUisatalosstounderstandwhyTSCcontinuestowasteratepayersmoneyinproducingadocumentandrecommendationsthatarenotnecessarilyfoundedonfactorsupportedbytheratepayersofTweedShireandultimatelymaynotbesupportedbytheNSWauthoritygoverningtheestuary.Finally,TRUbelievethatsafetyforallriverusersshouldbethenumberonepriority.Inthisregardthecurrentmanagementandoperationoftheriverhasworkedwellwithveryfewreportedaccidentsovertheyears.TRU’sgreatestfearsfromTSC’sexhibitedCMParearoundtheproposedcreationofthe“CharacterZones”potentiallyleadingtoconfusionamongstwatercraftusersthusincreasingthepotentialforconflictsandaccidents.