Preposterous. The idea of jet skis zooming around Jervis Bay, their dentist
drill whines piercing the peace of locals and tourists alike, harassing
dolphins, penguins and seals, wreaking havoc for swimmers, surfers, sailors
and those who like to fish.
Could it really happen in an about to be declared marine park in which the
region, the state and the nation have cause for pride? Is the Bay to become
a heaven for water hoons?
The story so far is this. A firm called Shoalhaven Tuitional Personal Watercraft
Hire has started operating at Huskisson. Its leaflet tells potential patrons
that no licence is required.
Mayor Max Atkins gave a very good impression that he knew nothing of the
development when asked a week ago. Several other elected Councillors also
looked genuinely surprised.
Council business development staff, however, knew all about it. They said
that the operator was working from a pontoon and not from the land and therefore
they had no control of it. It was a State Government matter, they said.
Presumably they felt they had no responsibility to tell their political
masters about it either, in case Council wanted to express a view.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service had no knowledge of the development
either. Well, not the local officers anyway. Besides, they would be the
last people on earth to want to shaft the Premier's vision for a Marine
Park.
Waterways, the State Government Agency? Well they say that if you or I want
to start a jet ski hire business we must first get an aquatic licence from
Waterways, then get Council approval and then get the landowners consent.
An aquatic licence may be issued to enable non-boat licensed people to hire
craft within a roped off "buoys" area, subject to safety and environmental
conditions.
There are a few more questions to be asked about this development. We have
asked the Premier to advise who in the bureaucracy is making such a farce
of his Marine Park Plan. As the Chairman of the Park Authority is the head
of the Premier's Department, we should be able to get to the bottom of it.
Certainly any government which allows the park to be shattered by jet skis
will expect to be accountable.
Meanwhile, a footnote for any who don't care about the wildlife or the peace
of the park. According to Time Magazine (Health Report Sept. 8th 1997),
since 1990 there has been a 400% increase in serious injuries caused to
people by jet skis.