OK! I have just had a very pleasant conversation with Stuart Hicks, District Ranger for the Coorong national Park (call hom on 85553059 if you like, he is more than happy to take your calls.) he has apologised for what happened yesterday with the directive of his rangers and their ruling that we, windsurfers, were PWC's which is definately not the case. We are allowed to continue to sail in the Murray Mouth.....Hooray!
A few points he did want to make though, was that we had to obey the 4knt speed limit while near the exclusion zone (which moves often) around the dredgers, Currently the dredger is on the Coorong - Southern end of the mouth so we are knowhere near the zone, so Sugars is all clear. He also made a point of not going into shallow water near bird life or other areas that might be sensitive like weeded areas or swamps like areas. This is the reason PWC's are banned in the coorong as PWC's (Jetski's) can venture into shallow waters and destroy sensitive environments.

Be aware that the dredger will move back into this Sugars beach area soon as dredging needs to be maintained on this side of the Murray Mouth so get into it while you can.

All a bit of a misunderstanding.....resume normal sailing peoples!

Good stuff. I was horrified when I saw windsurfing lumped in the same category as jet skis.

Excellent great work dave i was worried there for a while. Sounds like it was all just a missunderstanding and congradulations to parks and wildlife for resolving the issue quickly.

Cheers
Bubs

sanity prevails.

well done Dave - just in time for a howling southerly for you speedsters on wednesday!

I have also spoken to Stuart regarding Karen's (The Park Ranger) directive for us not to sail there and can confirm Daves post that we have the green light, although he did want to reinforce the point about the exclusion zone. The dredge has relocated to opposite sugars beach and there is a 250m zone around the dredge where the 4 knot limit within this zone. The dredge was not opperating yesterday but we need to avoid breaching this rule so we dont get give them any reason to flick us. As it is they have forwarded the matter to their compliance department for a ruling on the PWC issue. IMHO It would appear that people have complained about the increased number of sailors there in the past month and we will probably start to get this at other locations as the lake drys up even more. Well done to everyone that followed Karens order/ego to not sail as I believe it prevented a clash that would have put us at odds with them and the out come may not have been as good.

Kimba said...

Well done Dave.

Lifts me out of the dumps, drove an hour to get to the mouth and had to be back by lunch. By the time ranger Stacy had given us the great news I was sunburnt and didnt even have time even for a sail behind the barrage.

I assume this means the fine(s) will be retracted....

Did you get fined?

Give Stuart a call, he will discuss this with you...