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Boat owners slam fee increase

Posted on November 22, 2008, 8:08am and updated on November 24, 2008 at 10:49 am

Limestone coast recreational boat owners have lambasted the State Government over skyrocketing registration fees, which they claim are hurting not only the local recreational industry but propping up the ailing River Murray system.

It is understood houseboats and traditional river boats along the River Murray will not suffer the soaring fees, but instead all recreational boat owners who use inland rivers such as the Glenelg River and the ocean will be slugged with the fee hike.

South East Recreational Fishermen’s Association president Garry Clifford yesterday described the price surge as “shocking” and “ridiculously high”.

“The government has done it through the backdoor,” said Mr Clifford, who claimed the government did not announce the fee spike, but only released details that prices across the transport sector would rise.

“I have raised concerns about this in Adelaide, but it has fallen on deaf ears,” he said.

Meanwhile, Donovans boat owner Ian Hamilton — who regularly uses the Glenelg River — yesterday described the situation as “ridiculous”.

“We are all getting hit with soaring fees — where is it going to end?”, said Mr Hamilton, who is a member of the Glenelg River Classic Boat Club.

“The State Government does nothing for the 5km stretch of the Glenelg River that we use, but they are slugging us with these ridiculous fees.

“Why are we paying for the problems of the River Murray? Why are we getting hit over and over again for the River Murray? The whole thing is getting sillier and sillier.

“Doesn’t the government think we have hardships in the South East.”

Mr Hamilton said he was stunned to discover that houseboats on the River Murray would be exempt from the increase because of the drought, even though many made money through their vessels.

He argued the fee hike was also double whammy for some Glenelg River shackowners who recently had a 150pc hike in their rentals.

While the price increase was aimed at new safety initiatives, he said it had yet to see the South Australian Government contribute to anything along its 5km stretch of the Glenelg River.

“The Victorian Police and the Victorian Fisheries Department control the river,” Mr Hamilton said.

“This is hitting the tourist industry and pricing boats off the river — the whole thing is getting stupid.”

Grant District Council chief executive Russell Peate yesterday urged people to contact council with any concerns so it could advocate on behalf of boat owners.

The price hike is also expected to hit people with jet skis and particularly those with longer boats. The new registration structure will affect 140,000 recreational boaters across the state.

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