Boat businesses welcome SA Government plan to divide Murray

Boat operators on the River Murray have welcomed the state government’s announcement that it will divide the River into eight zones.

Water sports operator Stuart Horsman from Freedom Boat Hire at White Sands. Picture: Matt Loxton

Boating operators have welcomed the state-government’s plan to ease restrictionsn on the River Murray in stages, saying it will fast-track a safe return to recreational activities.

The government on Wednesday, divided the river into eight zones, which will allow it to end boating bans in different sections once they are safe, rather than having one set of rules across the entire river.

State coordinator Grant Stevens said the “priority” was to lift restrictions as “early as possible” but said that it was “too early to forecast” when they might be.

The eight zones are largely separated by locks one to five. There is a separate zone for Lake Bonney, one from Blanchetown to Wellignton, and one from Wellington to the Murray mouth.

A new map released shows each of the zones labelled in different colours from A to H and stretching from Renmark to the mouth near Goolwa, separated by locks.

Recreational activities will return to the River Murray in a staged effort with eight separate zones restricting different activities over the coming months.

Owner of Freedom Boats at White Sands, Stuart Horsman said it was “great idea” but said it would have served better if zones had been introduced when the floods began in October.

“The fact that they shut the river and told us we couldn’t operate … that cut us down by 100 per cent,” he said.

Mr Horsman said he stopped operating in October and had to let five staff members go.

Since then, he said he applied for both the business closure and downturn grant but was unsuccessful on both occasions.

“We’ve had to sell a lot of our boats because there’s been no grants or any support whatsoever,” he said.

Meanwhile, co-owner of White Houseboats in Mannum, Brenden Taylor also welcomed the news, hoping to return to the water as soon as possible with staff keen to work.

“Bookings for houseboats have dropped about 95% and we’re hoping that picks up again as soon as the river is open,” he said.

“It’s been very difficult for staff because a lot of our cleaners and services also clean the holiday homes which are underwater.”

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Police Commissioner Grant Stevens. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

Mr Stevens said the new direction would also fine people who entered the water before restrictions were lifted or accessed levees illegally.

“If a person is found to breach the Emergency Management Act Direction they may receive an expiation notice of $1000, with the addition of the Victims of Crime Levy - or you may be referred to court.

“The direction now prevents people from entering or remaining on a levee except if they are responding to an emergency, inspecting, conducting maintenance or repair,” he said.

“This direction allows us to expand the safety and compliance capabilities in regards to not only the river, but the land around the river.

“Police will continue to take an educational approach with the community, however, this direction will allow us to have clear definitions of what is and is not acceptable behaviour on and around the flooded river.”