Long suffering kayak and canoe enthusiasts who regularly use Dutchies Beach are rejoicing with the news this week they could soon be permitted to store their craft on dinghy racks without the fear of penalty from Port Stephens Council.
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East ward councillor and kayak enthusiast John Nell has gone to the rescue of the micro-craft owners by applying to have council's policy amended so that dinghy racks at Dutchies Beach be available to kayak/canoe owners.
Currently, council's Foreshore Dinghy Storage Policy adopted in April 2015 forbids the storage of kayaks and canoes on council-managed public foreshores.
The proposed changes were music to the ears of kayak owners John and Lindy Corrie, recent retirees to the Bay, who had contacted the Examiner after having approached the council and east ward councillors John Nell and Glen Dunkley.
"The fact is that dinghies aren't generally kept at Duchies as there are few moorings and hence no demand. Kayaks are overwhelmingly stored on these racks and more can be accommodated... it shouldn't be this hard and I'd suggest it's time that council awoke to the needs of micro craft users," Cr Nell said.
Cr Nell conceded that the use of dinghies had drastically decreased in recent years.
"In the early days there were up to 20 boats moored at Dutchies, now there's only the odd one or two, so it would be a logical step to include kayaks and canoes on the racks."
As a result Cr Nell has lodged a notice of motion to be presented to the November 10 council meeting, stating: "That council amends its dinghy policy to allow kayaks to be stored for the regular dinghy fee on the dinghy rack at Dutchies Beach."
Cr Nell was not, however, willing to negotiate on the cost.
"They will have to pay the $100 annual registration fee for the privilege," he said.
A council spokesperson said that its Foreshore Dinghy Storage Policy prohibited kayaks and canoes in order "to reduce clutter on public foreshores as a lot of people own kayaks and also as kayaks are relatively easy (compared to dinghies) to transport and store off site".
The spokesperson said that since 2015, six kayaks (including surf skis and canoes) had been impounded by the council.
"We follow the same process for all abandoned/unattended/unregistered/prohibited vessels," the spokesperson said.
"An Abandoned Article Notice is placed on vessels that are unregistered or classified as unauthorised, giving the owner 14 days to remove. If the vessel has any owner information on it they will be contacted and issued a notice of proposed impounding giving them 14 days to remove.
"If the vessel has not been removed by the owner after this time, the vessel will be impounded and delivered to our holding facility where it will stay for three months to give owners an appropriate timeframe to claim the vessel (fees apply). If the vessel is not collected within this timeframe, those with no monetary value will be disposed of in accordance with the Impounding Act 1993."
