A study assessing the impact of boat wake on Tweed River bank erosion has been put on display by Tweed Shire Council.
Council will use the study’s findings, in conjunction with feedback received during the exhibition period, to prepare a Tweed River bank erosion management plan, resulting in the formulation of bank erosion rehabilitation recommendations to be implemented by council.
One of the reasons for the study was to allow TSC to make informed recommendations when Roads and Maritime Services undertake a review of the Tweed River Boating Plan of Management, council’s waterways and coast coordinator Tom Alletson said.
‘These recommendations would seek to balance the demand for recreational boating in the upper estuary against the environmental and economic impacts of vessel wake-generated riverbank erosion,’ Mr Alletson said.
‘The study’s findings show the entire stretch of river between Chinderah and Bray Park is susceptible to bank erosion as a result of vessel wake, and that wake waves have become the dominant erosion mechanism in the upper Tweed River estuary.’
‘The stretch of river downstream of Chinderah is more exposed to predominant wind directions and is
therefore subject to larger wind-generated waves.
‘However, the study points out there could be an increase in the levels of water skiing and wake boarding in
this downstream section, bringing a corresponding rise in wake waves, if these activities were restricted in
other areas of the river.’
The study will be on display until April 17, with submissions accepted until May 1. It can be viewed on council’s website www.tweed.nsw.gov.au, at council’s offices in Tweed Heads and Murwillumbah and the three Tweed Shire libraries.
