Cast swim safety net wider
With reference to the recent articles and letter in the Examiner (January 7) regarding jet skis and maritime traffic in general in the Bay, I would like to add my two cents' worth. As a long time resident and former boat and jet ski owner I can understand both sides of the problem.
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There are always 'hoons' as well as law abiding citizens in every area of society and it is unfortunate that the rule breakers seem to get all the attention.
My concern is the proximity to the beaches in the Bay that these boats and jet skis seem to be allowed. On a recent sunny day, my husband and I saw no less than six jet skis parked very close to the beach at the Nelson Bay foreshore along Victoria Parade.
A similar situation exists along Shoal Bay beach at the eastern end where we've seen up to 10 jet skis anchored. These vehicles not only impede the pleasure of swimmers who have to manoeuvre around them, but are also potentially dangerous. Even if the drivers of the jet skis, and occasionally motor boats, move slowly in and out of the area, there is always the danger of hitting someone who is snorkelling, swimming or just not seen until it's too late.
In many Mediterranean countries there is a ban on any motorised vessel anchoring within 200m of a designated swimming beach. These beaches do provide a buoyed corridor through which motorised vessels can pass to reach the beach should they wish to pick up or drop off passengers. It's clearly marked and swimmers can stay out of the way so as not to risk being hit.
Might I suggest that Port Stephens Council or whomever is responsible for the safety of our swimming beaches adopt a similar safety code? The beach at Little Beach is safe from boat traffic due to the buoys that designate the swimming area, so why not extend this plan to more swimming beaches around the Bay? Let's not wait until a preventable accident happens.
Robin Foley, Shoal Bay
Jet skis ruin tranquility
I couldn't agree more with the letter published last week from Amanda Sutherland regarding jet skis on the Nelson Bay harbour.
Recently while walking with a friend along the Bridle Path we counted 14 jet skis at 8am racing and yahooing.
The peace and tranquility was completely ruined.
Why should we have to put up with this, not to mention the damage they do to our amazing wildlife?
During my years here I have seen damaged turtles washed up on beaches. Are they not more important?
Jackie Williams, Salamander Bay
Plan for moving forward
Although I appreciate Matthew Findlay's comments "2021 will be the year to move forward" (Examiner, Letters, January 7) I disagree with his push for "faster and aim higher and expect more".
I believe in planning for orderly and reasoned progress, specially for a landlocked peninsula like Tomaree, which has a limited capacity to expand so to speak.
Perhaps we should again look at the Greater Newcastle Metropolitan Plan (2018-2036) and the Hunter Regional Plan (2036) for guidance before moving too fast and too high into the future.
There is a limited capacity for population growth in the Bay areas due to its landlocked location.
I wouldn't like to see the Bay becoming the Northern Beaches of Sydney.
Ernest To, Medowie
Unlikely tourist attraction
We always look for the emu when traveling to Nelson bay and back to Newcastle.
Recently, we saw two emus.
One at Williamtown and one up a bit further near the quad bike centre.
I always thought the emu we saw made a lot of ground but now I know there's two and I can call one Eric and one Kevin.