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 Introduction

The Review of Speed Limits; Gold Coast Waterways[1] by Marine Safety Queensland ("MSQ") was completed in late 2007. An earlier Discussion Paper made a number of recommendations. Submissions on those recommendations were sought from interested parties and considered.

All submissions were reviewed and proposals developed by a reference group consisting of two representatives from MSQ and one from each of the Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol, Queensland Water Police and Marine Queensland, the Gold Coast Marine Safe Committee and the Gold Coast City Council.

Not all of the recommendations in the Discussion Paper were proposed by the Review for final implementation.

What's new

There are specific restrictions proposed to introduce "No Wash Zones" to prohibit wash of a defined characteristic or prohibit activities that may create such wash.

A 6 knot speed limit will be introduced for vessels 8 metres and over in length within 30 metres of vessels under way.

New or extended speed zones will be introduced at Cabbage Tree Point, Jacobs Well, Tipplers Passage, McKenzies Channel, Wasp Creek, the Coomera and Nerang Rivers, and The Broadwater south of Wavebreak Island.

What hasn't changed.

There are no proposed changes to the current general speed limit of 6 knots in canals, creeks, lakes, boat harbours and marinas. 

The 6 knot speed limit for vessels 8 metres or over in some rivers and other narrow waterways will be retained.

The Details

The first recommendation is to reduce the speed limit in the waters of all canals, creeks, lakes, boat harbours and marinas from 6 to 4 knots.

Not surprisingly, enforcement agencies and owners of waterfront property thought this was a good idea. Many recreational and commercial boaties disagreed, referring to increased travel times and decreased vessel control/steerage.

The proposal which will be implemented is to leave the speed limit in canals etc. at 6 knots but introduce:

• "No Wash Zones", in all canals, creeks, lakes, boat harbours and marinas, where the creation of wash of defined characteristics, or the participation in activities which may create such wash, is prohibited; and
• A speed limit of 6 knots in all waters, for vessels of 8 metres and over, within 30 metres of any other vessel underway.[2]

The second recommendation is to reduce the length of a vessel, to which a speed limit of 6 knots applies in some rivers and other narrow waterways, from 8 metres to 6 meters.

This recommendation had support from vessel and property owners who said that modern "smaller" vessels cause damaging and dangerous wash and opposition based on increased travel times, impact on industry, impact on skiing and wakeboarding, "there is no problem" and from those who bought a vessel between 6 and 8 metres. Suggestions included reducing the general speed limit to 20 – 30 knots.

The proposals which will be implemented are to leave the general speed limit unchanged and:

• No change to the threshold vessel length of 8 metres;
• Better enforcement of "distance off" speed limits and creation of wash;
• Assess the need to declare No Wash Zones in particular areas.

The third recommendation, to introduce a 10 knot speed limit for vessels, 15 metres and over, between Wavebreak Island and the Logan River, attracted support from vessel owners including suggestions to reduce the length of vessel under 15 metres and the speed limit under 10 knots. Opposition relied on travel times, impact on industry and over-regulation.

The proposal is to address the issues by the 6 knots speed limit for vessels 8 metres and over, better enforcement, No Wash Zones, as above and 6 knot limits for all vessels in narrow channels such as McKenzie's Channel and Wasp Creek.

The fourth recommendation about extended speed zones at Cabbage Tree Point, Jacobs Well, Tipplers Passage, Coomera River and the Broadwater has resulted in proposals to:[3]

• extend the current 6 knot limit area for all vessels in the Steiglitz Reach mooring area northward to Cabbage Tree Point;
• extend the current 6 knots limit for vessels 8 metres and over at Jacobs Well eastwards to Calypso Bay
• extend the current 6 knot zone at Tipplers Passage southwards and investigate the desirability of a short extension northward;
• on the Coomera River, introduce two 6 knot zones for all vessels:

o      between Foxwell Island and the railway bridge; and

o       by extending the existing Sanctuary Cove zone to include the reach of South Arm adjacent to Sanctuary Cove

• south of Wavebreak Island on the Broadwater:

o       in the South Channel:

Ø      extend the 6 knot area for all vessels northwards to beacons S9 and S10; and

Ø      introduce a 20 knot limit for all vessels in balance of the channel and eastwards.

o       in the Western Channel:

Ø      introduce a 6 knot limit for all vessels from Gold Coast Highway bridge to beacon S11, and between Central Street and beacons 343 and 344 to north of Harley Park; and

Ø      introduce a 20 knot limit for all vessels elsewhere.

The fifth recommendation for specific restrictions on the creation of dangerous and damaging wash was to introduce a 6 knot limit within 30 metres of other vessels (stationary or underway) that may be adversely affected by wash.

Supporting submissions referred to close passage of large vessels and activities such as wakeboarding. Opposing submissions cited enforcement difficulties and inability to pass slow vessels in narrow channels. Suggested alternatives included a larger buffer distance, lower overall speed limit, defined wash size and "low wash" designs for vessels.

The final proposal is a 6 knot limit for vessels of 8 metres and over within 30m of other vessels underway and liaison with the wakeboarding community.

There are also detailed additional or alternative proposals.[4] The Review includes a series of maps showing the proposed changes.

Implementation

A large number of the proposals under the Review, such as the new or extended 6 knot zones, will be Gazetted by the CEO under s 206A of the Transport Operations (Marine Safety) Act 1994.[5]  Those proposals, such as the creation of "No Wash Zones" will require changes to the legislation.

The proposals are currently being finalised by MSQ for implementation in mid 2008.