20 December 2009

One rule for some?

| johnboy
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five power boats

This morning I took my ex-dog (the kelpie of few accomplishments) for a walk around the lake.

We were both very impressed to see an armada of five power boats (with a border collie in the bow of one) escorting a mere three rowing shells down the lake.

(Apologies for the phone-camera quality image)

It seems as long as you’re vaguely associated with a rowing club you can go for a fang, but otherwise you’re strictly prohibited.

A bit like the way the Canberra Centre can have advertising billboards.

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Roger_Duck said :

Teetotaller’s, party poopers, yuppies, whatever you want to call them, there are too many people out here that want to spoil fun for everyone.

Make this place fun for all!

…not all of us want to spoil your fun Roger…

Someone correct me if I’m wrong here, but blue green algae won’t flourish as much if there is a constant movement or rotation of a body of water.

Think of it this way, get a bucket of water and leave it in the sun for a week or more. What appears? Algae.

Solution to the problem. Canberra is seen around the country and around the world for a lot of great things, and a lot of bad things not unlike anywhere else. But how in the name of everything fun could a few boats zipping around this great lake, with people fishing or even skiing spoil the tranquility and uniqueness of the place?

Teetotaller’s, party poopers, yuppies, whatever you want to call them, there are too many people out here that want to spoil fun for everyone.

Make this place fun for all!

Skyring said :

Joe Canberran said :

Cool. I used to play World of Watercraft on the net but I found there were too many players with cod complexes.

I thought it was a load of carp.

Was that the one with Kevin Costner in it? Now that WAS a load of carp!!

Joe Canberran said :

Cool. I used to play World of Watercraft on the net but I found there were too many players with cod complexes.

I thought it was a load of carp.

Joe Canberran8:41 am 24 Dec 09

Cool. I used to play World of Watercraft on the net but I found there were too many players with cod complexes.

Hells_Bells74 said :

sloppery said :

And all because of the Stigma of Powered Watercraft…

Care to elaborate? You’ve got me slightly curious on that one.

It’s the name of a book I’m writing. Kinda a fantasy genre, but with modern technology thrown in.

gadzooks! unruly craft in the lake? will no-one think of the poor algae..??

AFAIK the limited prohibition on powered boats in LBG was related to concerns about the accumulation of discharged hydrocarbon into the lake environment. Of course the qbn sewage works upstream and the heavy metal contamination from Cpt Flat probably swamp any such contamination concerns not to mention the periodic cleaning of the streets of inner north and south Canberra every time we get a decent drop of rain but hey let’s not get too precious.

I don’t quite see how this links to billboards other than the rather tenuous thread that both are somehow examples of moneyed privilege operating in this tiny bastion of socialism…yeah.

Hells_Bells745:01 pm 23 Dec 09

sloppery said :

And all because of the Stigma of Powered Watercraft…

Care to elaborate? You’ve got me slightly curious on that one.

And all because of the Stigma of Powered Watercraft…

James-T-Kirk1:26 pm 23 Dec 09

Fisho said :

Hardly a conspiracy I would have thought.

NSW boat licenses are available from the NSW Maritime office in QB. Check the NSW Maritime site for more info.

It is interesting that you can’t get an ACT boat license. And remember that a NSW boat license is only required if you are traveling over 5 knots.

There was an internal hemorrhage in one of the community groups I work with, when it was determined that a member did not hold a boat license. After much searching, it was agreed that while the ACT government did not have the concept of a boating license, we decided that a NSW waterways license would be ok. Bizarre insurance requirements.

Sigh!

On a similar note, I always notice during skyfire, the large number of power boats that seem to appear on LBG in the evening. The most annoying thing, is these boats are completely dark, sitting on the shore you can hear them go screaming past, with no lights on them at all. Surely, all these boats havent received a special permit and havent been inspected. (Im not talking about boats involved in the event, Im talking about the guy who (over)loads his kids into a tinny and takes off to sit near the museum.)

Either there are rules against power boats on the lake, and they should be enforced to the greatest extent of the law.. or if its really that much of a hassle to police it, then get rid of the laws, allow power boats onto the lake and let the residents decide if they think its too much hassle.

Not to mention, how many of those boats carry the correct safety gear? For the rowing club, they may during formal events and such, but Id wager if the water police started getting out and patrolling the lake the rules might start being followed. NSW waterways users didnt learn to use life jackets and other safety stuff until it was mandated by law, unfortunately the ACT has no real waterway authority, simply passing the buck to NSW Maritime.

Hardly a conspiracy I would have thought.

Special use permits for the lake((-googong)s) are relatively easy to obtain with genuine need.

Recent changes to NSW Maritime laws for recreational boating require a new boatie to spend X amount of hours of tutelage under the instruction of an experienced boatie. (thanks to drunks on Sydney harbour).

More likely an experienced skip was passing on knowledge, helping clock up the log book hours, giving firsthand knowledge to people who will one day help out with local events. Local knowledge on conditions, hazards and such is invaluable.

You can go for a blat up Molonglo reach, just book with Canberra Connect. Launch in the Pialligo waterski area. Just try not to get in the way of the water skiers, its the only place they can play. Unlike everywhere else in Oz, the ACT ski mob are courteous and safety conscious of other users.

For general recreational boating on the lake you need a permit available from the NCA and an inspection by the Water Police . For Tuggers and Ginni you need a separate permit from TAMS I believe, and a separate one for Googong. Call Canberra Connect for info. An electric motor is required for local lakes unless you have a special use permit.

NSW boat licenses are available from the NSW Maritime office in QB. Check the NSW Maritime site for more info.

Though it would be nice if all water users had a boat license, including rowers who are basically clueless. Probably why they need shepherds.

Hells_Bells744:45 pm 22 Dec 09

Grail said :

Of all the issues raised here, I am most disturbed by the implications of someone taking an ex-dog for a walk.

For an ex-dog, that I indeed met the other night – It does still remarkably look like a dog!

Issues? Maybe!

😉

Of all the issues raised here, I am most disturbed by the implications of someone taking an ex-dog for a walk.

James-T-Kirk11:48 am 22 Dec 09

Wow

There are a number of ways to respond to this – and I am genuinely not sure which, so here goes.

1) If you would like to operate a power boat on the lake, then join one of the community orgs who are allowed to operate the facilities, spend the time with them, and enjoy assisting the community.

2) Wow – That is so harsh – that *your* quiet time was taken up by somebody else enjoying themselves. Bugga — Often *my* quiet time with the missus is taken up with the kids invading our space. Oh well – some times, you just have to cope.

3) – My favorite – the one I teach my kids…… Suck it up sunshine! get over it, or write a letter to the paper (which has reduced readership numbers – or Post a blog entry about it)

Lakes are funny things – so many different things to so many people – some see them as things to swim across, others love to sail on them, others love to fish, others love to hear peace and tranquility. The sailors have to remember to avoid the heads of the swimmers. The fishers dislike the sailors and the swimmers, as they scare the fish away, and the people loving peaceful, quiet time hate the people on the boats enjoying themselves – either power or sailing – Too much noise

Go buy an ipod.

And another thing! Why do housing estates get to put up billboards? That thing on the Barton highway makes me so angry!

The same goes for the the Arts precinct stuff in the SW corner of the CBD too. Does anyone know what the rules are on street-side billboards these days?

Do they have a boating day on the lakes? I remember seeing about 10-15 boats on Belco lake one day last year. Maybe it was a carp removal day?

Where do you take your boat for a fang if you don’t wanna take it to the coast? anything closer than Jindy worth a hit?

Chop

What you are seeing might be the application of the overriding rule – that there is one rule for the rest of us, no rule if it’s in any way connected to sport.

most of the Billboards in the Canberra Centre are actually classified as “windows”. They just happen to be “windows” with giant ads hung directly behind them.

StrangeAttractor2:32 pm 21 Dec 09

dr phil said :

Who will stop me from fanging around in my speed boat?

On LBG, the water police will. They have guns.

justin heywood11:00 am 21 Dec 09

It’s an outrage, Johnboy. We either have rules for the lake or we don’t.

Obviously, some of these boaties are using the cover of the rowers to fulfil their dream of ‘fanging’ around the lake in their high powered toys. Some of those tinnies can hit 5 knots, even 6 if the wind is behind them. Probably some private school types having their sense of entitlement reinforced. Sink ’em, I say.

And…will no-one think of the fish?

Who will stop me from fanging around in my speed boat?

This isn’t uncommon.
All of the sailing groups on the lake utilise power boats for safety as well.
It would be a little bit hard to try and rescue someone with a row boat now wouldn’t it?
Although I don’t know why they would need five.

Oh no, its the watergate scandal all over again! (couldn’t help meself hehehe)

Morgan said :

http://www.urbandictionary.com is your friend

thanks for that !! 🙂 am with the conversation now…….

Felix the Cat8:09 pm 20 Dec 09

I saw some guy in an outboard powered tinny fishing in the lake the other day.
The rowing people probably have permission.

what’s a fang?

This has been happening for years and years. Whats so surprising?

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