Sweetwater Fishing Forums
General Category => Recreation Access Notices => Topic started by: aussiebasser on February 24, 2016, 07:26:38 AM
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I heard on the Ipswich Radio Station this morning that a Fishing Competition will be held on Lake Wivenhoe from March 10th to March 13th and that the speed limit on the lake will be lifted to 40 knots for the event. There will be some exclusion zones, Logan's Inlet and Hamon Cove. The upstream boundary will be near Tallungra Cliffs and the downstream boundary will be at Brads Point. (see attached map.)
The speed limit exclusion times are;
Thursday March 10th all day
Friday March 11th all day
Saturday March 12th 6.30am to 11.00am and 1.00pm to 5.00pm
Sunday March 13th 6.30am to 11.00am
Outside of these hours the speed limit will be, as normal, 6 knots.
It looks like a good weekend to be able to travel around the lake a bit faster than normal.
With the road into Hays Landing and Billies Bay currently closed, I'm not sure why they are using the Brad's Point limit, as there are not likely to be any yachts around the Brisbane Sailing Club area.
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Nothing on seq water website about this.
Cheers
Ray
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Going cod fishing at Glenlyon so no speeding around there for me.
Will have to just suck it up and do the 6 knots as advised on my next visit. :NoSpam)
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I don't think SEQWater want to advertise the fact Ray.
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Nothing on seq water website about this.
Cheers
Ray
It's not an SEQwater event. It appears they are allowing this "one off" under sufferance.
They never put aything about the Wivenhoe Kayak Convention for 6 years either..............
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Copy of email from SEQ water.
Good morning Ray
The fishing competition participants will have clearly defined areas where they can do up to 40 knots although normal boating rules regarding speed in close proximity to other vessels etc will still apply. The relaxation of the speed limit will not apply to non participants.
The competition will be operating out of Hamon Cove and we do expect that Seqwater compliance team will have an on water presence to monitor compliance with the conditions imposed on the event.
The event has been arranged by Somerset Regional Council rather than by the commercial fishing event operator.
Cheers
Ray
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So you got it in writing from SEQWater that you have to pay a private company to be permitted to exceed the speed limit, wow that hardly seems constitutional Ray. Maybe you should email them back and ask just how that would stand up in court, not that SEQWater can actually enforce the speed limit anyway. During discussions with SEQWater we did point this out and their representative did say that it was up to the competition organisers to enforce it, and I'm pretty sure I would ignore anyone who wasn't wearing a proper uniform and carrying official ID.
As I said in my post above, the speed limits will not be in force in the areas shown on the map above on the above dates and times. Ray, you don't have to take advantage of it however others may.
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Do not see anywhere in the email from seq where anyone has paid.
Did Somerset council pay?
The reason I wrote to seq water was to express a concern that people would not know that the event was being held and there would be persons in craft not suitable for boating in areas with other people roaring about at 40 knots.
Even if the competitors observed the distance rule they would still be producing plenty of wash,
I really fail to see any valid reason for the temporary raising of the speed limit.
The email also states that the speed exemption only applies to competitors in the event.
Cheers
Ray
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Unfortunately Ray, we did not receive any consultation on this. When SWFSA discovered the plans there was an open speed limit inside Logan's Inlet. We contacted SEQWater and asked them to reconsider that, which they did. According to your email, the only people exempt from the 6 knot speed limit are participants in the competition. These participants are paying an entry fee that is not going to Somerset Regional Council, it is going to a private entity, hence my question about the legality of the whole thing. I'm sure there will be signs at the access point advising the general public of the event, and as I've said, there have been announcements in the local media.
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I wonder how consitutional it is to allow a private entity issue permits to break the gazetted laws.
It's like saying only financial RACQ members being allowed to do 150km on the Bruce Highway. ::)
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Notice now up on seq water website.
Cheers
Ray
Lake Wivenhoe will host a fishing competition from Thursday 10 March to Sunday 13 March.
Competition participants will be excepted from the 6 knot speed limit and will be able to travel in defined areas at up to 40 knots for the purposes of the competition only. Lake Wivenhoe will remain open for non-competition fishers at the usual 6 knot speed limit.
The 40 knot speed limit will be exclusive to the centre of the lake with three sections remaining at the 6 knot limit for all boating. These areas are around Logan Inlet, the dam wall and the northern reaches above the Esk intake tower. Seqwater will be on hand to monitor speeds in the designated areas.
Harmon Cove will be the central base for the event.
All visitors are asked to observe signage and remain vigilant at all times, especially when sharing the competition fishing area.
Queries regarding speed limits on the lake, please contact our Recreation Team by calling 1800 737 928 or emailing recreation@seqwater.com.au
All other enquiries regarding the competition should be directed to Somerset Regional Council.
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The updated map is attached to this post. The areas have not changed from the initial post.
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These have appeared this week.
(If you cannot read the fine print is says; "For Boat Ramp and Picnic Facilities please use Logan Inlet. For more information phone Somerset Regional Council (07) 5424 4000")
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It seems that even though absolutely ZERO dollars are going back into the fishery from this event, it is quite acceptable to force the general public and volunteer groups out of the area for 4 days. In all the years that the Kayak and Canoe convention was run, we welcomed the general public to attend. I ran an Electric Comp for ABT that had 107 entrants and we didn't need to exclude the general public from that area. This event has 30 boats registered and they seem to think they own the place. It's not surprising seeing a sign that basically says KEEP OUT with Somerset Regional Council written on it though. Short sighted bunch.
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I have to wonder if it is a coincidence that both the organisers, with their map, and SEQWater, with their public notice, have called it Harmon Cove instead of it's true name, Hamon Cove. I am trying to ascertain if the signs have been erected by Council, or a private entity.
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Word back from the Council on the sign tells me "this is in accordance with SEQ water approval". I'm not sure whether that means SEQWater approved the signs, or the signs were required for SEQWater to approve the event. Anyway, it does seem that the general public are not welcome at Hamon Cove during the event, so if you wish to take advantage of the lifted speed limits launch at Logan Inlet and remember to obey the 6 knot limit until you get out onto the big water.
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So if I'm out there in my kayak and I get run over by a 1000 mile an hour boat, who pays my bills???
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So if I'm out there in my kayak and I get run over by a 1000 mile an hour boat, who pays my bills???
The event organisers public liability policy.
Part of running an event on Seqwater assets is a requirement to indemnify the corporation in the event insurance policy.
Would you really want to be out on Big W on a yak when there's tourny boats whipping the water up?? For those few days it's best to go elsewhere in a paddle craft. You could be like some cyclists on busy roads & say its your right to be out there and do it just cause you can or you could simply not put yourself at risk and dodge the joint.
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The limit is 40 knots Sel, not 1000 mph. The laws are the same. The boats have to stay the required distance from paddle craft. You could take your boat for that weekend and take advantage of the speed limit to explore some new territory. Fast run to Brad's point then 6 knots down to the bouy line and fish those two humps on the Northern bank or a Fast run up to the end of the cliffs and then 6 knots to the water intake tower or the Brissie/Stanley junction. Plenty of options that weekend without needing the yak.
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I still intend to use my tax payer, boating permit and SIP holder rights to access the dam from Hamon Cove on Friday 11/3.
Cheers Andrew
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From SEQ Water website.
Competition participants will be excepted from the 6 knot speed limit and will be able to travel in defined areas at up to 40 knots for the purposes of the competition only
Dale so you are openly advocating the ignoring of safety restrictions?
Cheers
Ray
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No Ray, I'm passing on first hand from an Seqwater ranger that they will not be enforcing the speed limit because they cannot. It is up to the competition organiser. Now according to Seqwater, the competition organiser is Somerset Regional Council and I know they will not be able to patrol the lake. This is a speed limit Ray, not a Safety Restriction. If it was a Safety Restriction, I'm sure Seqwater would not ignore it for a fishing competition. If a 6 knot speed limit was a "Safety Restriction" all of the lakes under Seqwater's control would be so restricted. I would never advocate ignoring a "Safety Restriction" in fact we have always advocated the wearing of PFDs for kayakers on the lake while Seqwater do not, as can be seen by their latest safety campaign poster which clearly shows a kayak fisherman on the lake without a PFD. I've been involved in a couple of rescues on the lake where the absence of a PFD could have been a real issue, as could have been the lack of an immediately available rescue vessel.
You should also be aware Ray, that I was personally involved in lobbying Seqwater for the area of Logan Inlet to be maintained as a 6 knot limit for this event, as it had been announced that the area from the boat ramp at Logan Inlet out to the main part of the dam was to be 40 knots. Fortunately Seqwater listened to our reasons and had the 40 knot area changed.
Please do not accuse me of being anything but safety conscious in regard to this competition.
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I think that you have been misinformed.
"There will be on water patrols throughout the competition to ensure adherence to the conditions imposed on the competitors and other lake users."
Rangers may not have power to ping but water police who will be accompanying rangers certainly do.
Cheers
Ray
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So Ray, do you agree that it is correct that a person should be able to pay a private, profit making entity a sum of money so that person can be exempt from rules which apply to other non-paying members of the public?
It would be interesting to hear the conversation from the Police Officer as he showed his radar gun, "Did you pay to enter this competition?" "No sir, however I have paid for a Boating Permit to use my vessel on this water, I have paid my registration and I have paid for a Boat License." "Nope, sorry, that's not good enough, you have to pay this bloke from up on the Sunshine Coast if you want to exceed 6 knots here today!" "OK officer, thankyou for the ticket, I elect not to pay the fine, I will talk to you again in Court, have a nice day."
Is this something like you think it will go Ray?
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You are the bush lawyer not me.
Cheers
Ray
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An accusation has been made that I am attempting to disrupt this Competition, I would like to state that I have never advocated or attempted to disrupt this competition. If anybody does take advantage of the modified speed limit during the course of this Council event I would hope and ask them, not to disrupt the competitors. There are laws regarding right of what and safe distances that everybody must obey. What I am saying, as a Somerset Council rate payer is that i hope that the Council are getting a return on any taxpayer funded contributions put towards this, and I have advised Council of this opinion. I also believe that all comers should be able to take advantage of these temporary unenforceable rule changes to see and fish areas of a Dam that is stocked with their SIP contributions that they cannot normally access. I personally hope that this event is successful for the Council and nobody does anything stupid or dangerous. I have been fortunate to have been permitted to access areas that others have not in the past, and there are some magnificent features on this dam normally hidden by time restraints.
Dale Sinclair
Fernvale.