BIA meets NSW Govt regarding boating fee increases

Yamaha Wave Runner © Boating Industry Association

The Boating Industry Association Ltd (BIA) yesterday meet with the NSW Government to directly raise concerns over planned increases to boating fees.

BIA spokesperson Neil Patchett said the opportunity to meet with key representatives of the NSW Government was appreciated and timely.

"BIA has had a positive and productive relationship with Transport for NSW and we want it to stay that way," Patchett said.

"Most of the fee increases are based around CPI but that is not the main issue; the problem is a number of fees have skyrocketed well above CPI, some are up more than 80 per cent and largely aimed at PWC."

Patchett said BIA had received messages of alarm from both industry and the public over the high fees planned for PWC and added that it was good to have the Personal Watercraft Distributor Association representative Alex Borduas of BRP join the meeting to reinforce the concerns of brands such as Seadoo, Kawasaki and Yamaha.

Borduas said: "We feel the PWC industry is being singled out unfairly for substantially different licence fee increases. We hope Transport for NSW heard our concerns and will respond accordingly."

BIA has today written formally to the Minister with a plan to ease industry and public concern, and is awaiting a response.

For information on boating go to: discoverboating.com.au.

For information on BIA go to: bia.org.au.