From the Secretary’s desk
With John Allen & John Sweetensen
FOLLOWING the decision by Great Lakes Council to approve, subject to conditions, the Parasailing DA, at least as far as the proposed in-shore activities within its jurisdiction were concerned, the issue was then passed on to the various marine authorities for approval of the proposed off-shore activities.
SRPS contacted the Port Stephens Marine Parks office to clarify whether there would be a further public consultation and submission process before a final decision was taken. Marine Parks advised that they would not call for more formal submissions, and that GLC had already forwarded the relevant PES report which summarised all the main points of community objections to this proposal. However, Marine Parks suggested that any further points SRPS considered relevant and important might be taken into consideration if put in writing.
A detailed letter was subsequently prepared, further addressing the inappropriateness of parasailing operations on the waters off Boat Beach and the safety implications of transferring participants in uncertain conditions from the beach to a powered craft moored beyond the break.
Copies of this letter were sent to Port Stephens Marine Parks Authority, NSW Roads and Maritime Services, and NSW Primary Industries (Aquatic Ecosystems) – the three relevant bodies. One response has since been received – from Roads and Maritime Services. This stated in essence that “RMS found no reasonable grounds to object to the proposed activity and therefore formally responded to Great Lakes Council listing conditions relating to licensing and safety of operation commensurate to existing State and National laws”.
The best that could happen is that the applicant will come to realize that conducting a parasailing business in an ecologically sensitive location such as Seal Rocks, and in the face of widespread community opposition, is not a sustainable option, and he will focus his attention more on Forster, where such an operation might be considered less inappropriate and more financially viable. We shall have to wait and see.