Skiers wade into fight Power boat users want ‘dumb’ law scrapped

GOLD Coast water ski and power boat enthusiasts are lobbying the State Government to remove a dormant law that could leave them in hot water.

Water skiers have been oblivious to laws that have banned them from their sport from 7pm to 7am, with a $361 fine if caught.

In a Soapbox column in the Bulletin on Saturday, prominent businessman and Gold Coast Suns chairman Tony Cochrane slammed the law, saying it was “dumb”.

Police have received no complaints and have not handed out any fines in the past 12 months, but the Gold Coast Water Sports and Power Boats Association still wants it removed. Association member Paul Morris said members should be able to ski whenever they wanted, as they had over the past 50 years.

“The thing is it is illegal. We have all been skiing illegally for six years,” he said.

“If something goes wrong, our compulsory cover would be completely wiped by the insurance companies.”

Mr Morris said the association had written to State MPs John Paul Langbroek and Ray Stevens asking them to lobby to remove the law, which was introduced in the Transport Infrastructure (Waterways Management) Regulation 2012.

The regulations determine what people can and cannot do in Gold Coast waterways.

Under the regulations, “watercraft’’ are not to be anchored, moored or kept for more than 24 hours in Biggera Creek, within 100m of the shores of the Sovereign Islands or Ephraim Islands, Clear Island Lake, Coomera River, Currumbin Creek, Lake Orr, the Nerang River upstream of Sundale Bridge, Tallebudgera Creek and the all encompassing “canals’’. The maximum penalty is $2611.

Those with sea legs could also be fined $2611 if they live or allow someone else to live on a boat within three nautical miles of one place for more than a week within a 60-day period. That rule does not apply if they are living in a marina with toilets and washing facilities.