SA boating facilities ministerial briefing
by Boating Industry Association 5 Jun 03:15 PDT
River Murray communities © Boating Industry Association
BIA last week gave a presentation on the ongoing concerns regarding River Murray slipway/haul-out facilities to Tourism Industry Council SA (TICSA) industry roundtable meeting, that included Minister Bettison the SA Tourism Minister and Emma Terry the CEO of the South Australian Tourism Commission (SATC).
The Murray is a vital economic and cultural asset for South Australia. However, current marine infrastructure limitations post-flood, with the lack of operational dedicated vessel slipway/haul-out facilities, hinder the full potential of the river for tourism and economic recovery and future development. A submission in September 2024 was made to the SA Government by the BIA, for a temporary/permanent haul-out facility at Renmark and Paringa for houseboats.
BIA's SA Manager, George Bolton, noted that the River Murray's iconic commercial houseboat fleet make a significant contribution to tourism in SA, but the future certainty of this fleet is at risk with a dwindling number of slipway/haul-out facilities to enable operators to best manage compulsory survey inspection requirements under the National Law for Domestic Commercial Vessels, to ensure vessel safety and underpin public confidence, and for insurance requirements of the private fleet.