Gold Coast Waterways bosses urged not to consider cap on boats using the Broadwater

THE number of boats using the Broadwater should be capped to help reduce congestion on the Gold Coast’s waterways — that’s the idea which has been savaged as a move which would “destroy people’s way of life”.

THE number of boats using the Broadwater should be capped to help reduce congestion on the Gold Coast’s waterways.

That’s the idea which has been savaged as a move which would “destroy people’s way of life”.

The prospect was raised with locals as a possible solution to heavy usage of the Broadwater at a recent community feedback session on the Spit masterplan.

Nearly 32,000 water vessels are registered on the Gold Coast, with an increase of around 5000 since 2013.

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The Broadwater is a boatie’s paradise. Picture: Mike Batterham

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But any suggestion of a cap has been met with a harsh rebuke from Broadwater MP David Crisafulli who blasted it as “an idea which should have been kicked into touch”.

“It would be outrageous to tell someone who has worked and saved to buy a boat that they can only use it at certain government-approved times,” he said.

“Any suggestion that access should be restricted should be met with a big ‘no way’ from the community.

“It would be like saying to someone they cannot drive on the M1 at certain times because there are too many cars.”

Mr Crisafulli said he would fight any such proposal.

“It would destroy people’s way of life and would be the ultimate over-reaction,” he said.

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There has been a furious reaction to a proposed cap on the number of vessels using the Broadwater. Picture: Mike Batterham

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The Gold Coast Waterways Authority is currently conducting a study into how the Broadwater is being used.

Authority chief executive Hal Morris confirmed the idea of a cap had been suggested but poured cold water on it, saying that it was “not under active consideration”.

Mr Morris insisted the Authority was in favour of improving access rather than restricting usage of the Broadwater.

The number of registered boats on the Gold Coast has grown dramatically in recent years. Picture: AAP

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“There have been people who are calling for restricted hours but we are finding ways to increase the usage of our waterways,” he said.

“We are looking at all options and while this idea has been proposed, it is certainly not something which is under active consideration.”

Mr Morris called the city’s waterways “the undiscovered jewel of the Gold Coast”.

The heavy use of the Broadwater and Nerang River has become a growing issue in recent years.

Police have cracked down on tinny hoons, with operations launched targeting local boat users speeding up and down the waterways.

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Boating is popular around the Gold Coast Seaway and Wave Break Island. Picture: Mike Batterham