The Currimundi Catchment Care Group announced today that an educational program aimed at boat owners and users will operate in the first week of December.  This program will be launched by Keryn Jones on 3rd December at the Boat Ramp,Westerway Pde at 10:00am.
 
President of the Group, David Allan, said that the program focuses on the "6 Knots -- No Wash" boat speed in Currimundi Lake, creeks and canals. He said that speeding boats are a danger to swimmers and people in watercraft such as canoes and kayaks. He emphasized that speeding boats also cause harm to our fragile environment, accelerating natural bank erosion, particularly west of Nicklin Way and along the creeks.
 
" The speed limit in Currimundi Lake, creeks and canals is '6 Knots -- No Wash'.  We all have a responsibility to protect the safety of users of our waterways as well as to protect our fragile environment. Boat users need to realize that the wash from a speeding boat undermines the banks of the lake and creeks and that if their boat is causing a wash then they are going too fast. Many new and inexperienced boat owners do not have an understanding of the damage the wash of speeding boats makes to the lake and creek banks".
 
Mr. Allan said that members of the Currimundi Catchment Care Group reported that adults and teenagers had frequently been observed speeding on the lake and in the creeks. He said that there were also reports of boys as young as 11 and 12 not wearing safety jackets in control of speeding boats with no adults on board.
 
The Sunshine Coast Regional Council has produced an educational pamphlet, Boating in Currimundi Lake, which will be distributed to every household bordering the waterways of the lake, creeks and canals. The Waterways Team will be distributing these pamphlets to boaties during the week.
 
Westpac Kawana Waters will be supporting this launch by bringing their Westpac BBQ trailer and providing a free sausage sizzle.
 
Maritime Safety Queensland will bring their patrol boat for display and will have boating information kits to hand out to the public in support of this educational campaign.