Current issues affecting recreational scuba divers and
clubs
Top issue 2009 - exHMAS Canberra access for recreational divers
The access regime for recreational club divers is the main issue the SDFV executive is focusing on in late 2009.
Parks Vic are the manager of the site once it is down and it appears they are pushing for a very rigorous strict booking system in the short term to try and get an idea of real interest in the site.
Hopefully in the long term access arrangements will be simplified.
SDFV Futures
The SDFV has surveyed its member clubs to confirm its role and direction as a peak body representing recreational scuba diving clubs.
Analysing and assessing these surveys is a major, important task for the current executive.
2009 and earlier issues - top issue: Channel Deepening Project
The SDFV has been involved in this project as a very active stakeholder, with many viewpoints aired. Perhaps
one of the most successful outcomes of the SDFV involvement to date has
been the inclusion of the Environmental Bond in the final approval
process [refer to sdfv submissions and PSAC Minutes].
The SDFV represents private scuba divers and recreational scuba
diving clubs at many meetings, and one of the important ones is the
Port of Melbourne Corporations Dive Industry Liaison Group (DILG) [with
representatives from SDFV and from the commercial dive industry DIVA ].
As part of our involvement in the DILG, The SDFV sought to have the POMC make their Dredging Shedule Daily Activities Update available
at boat ramps and also via marine radio. It is available by telephone
with the number available from the daily activities link, and from Lonsdale Light. We will let
you know
as soon as POMC agrees and puts a procedure in place - still no realtime notification at launch ramps.
The SDFV has submitted comments on the original EES and on the
Panel Report and the Ministers response, and also on the SEES.
The SDFV had a position on the Port of Melbourne Corporations Community
consultatitive committee [PSAC] one of the outcomes of the EES panel
report.
A side note: if you read the SDFV EES and SEES
submissions you will find we commented on the content of the report and
the process - not on whether or not the project should go ahead.
Basically, if the Port of Melbourne Corporation can prove (via the EES
process) that there is no long term harm, then the short term damage of
not being able to enjoy our diving while dredging and the rather large
maintenance followup dredging isn't reason enough for most of the SDFV
clubs to oppose the project outright.
So far though, the EES process and the seeming inability in the
dredging trial to stick with their own environmental management
guidelines provide a basis for many SDFV member clubs (and their
members) to strongly oppose the project.
- SDFV submission on EES
- 21 April 2005 comments on
Panel Report and Minsiters Statement
- SEES draft guidelines
- PSAC committee member
- Alan has taken some video footage of the area around where the trial dredging will occur and followed up with some footage taken after the dredging happened. Over time this page http://www.sdfv.org.au/dredging will be cleaned up and made more user friendly.
- ......
- March 2007: Finally the SEES has been released
The SDFV expects to be invited to meetings by the POMC about this, and
will keep pushing the SDFV line as stated above as well as in our
submissions.
- The SDFV submitted a comment on the SEES!
You might notice that it opposes the project.
Other issues:
Abalone Management and keeping a fair recreational
catch!
In 2004 a regulatory impact statement was released and this is what the
SDFV had to say [the SDFV don't support most of the proposed changes]:
Abalone
RIS and SDFV Submisison (2004)
The actual submission
May 2005 - SDFV Press release opposing the outcome. Note: SDFV supports the stopping of all poaching of abalone, but believe this is not the way to do it.
Here we are in March 2007 and the issue is ongoing. Last year a
meeting was held between VRFISH (read SDFV) and Fisheries Victoria to
discuss the terrible 60 fishing days debacle. The SDFV position is
simple: Keep it Simple!!!! Let us fish on all weekends and public holidays!!!. That is the position that the SDFV is promoting.
Rock Lobster (cray) Management and keeping a fair
recreational catch!
The SDFV has been involved in the management of the Rock Lobster catch
for more than 20 years!!!!!!!! Still there are ongoing issues
related to allowing recreational scuba divers catching rock lobster.
The SDFV has succeeded in obtaining a legally binding share of the
resource - a % of the TAC to use the terminology. That means that
recreational fishers have a legal right to catch crays.
PFD - personal floatation devices
There are some proposed changes to regulations that could lead to all
people on boats being required to wear a PFD-1. While wearing a wetsuit
this could be most uncomfortable, and the SDFV like many other
organisations (eg: VRFISH, which the SDFV is a member of) believe that
the proposed changes need a rethink.
You can read the SDFV submission to the RIS process here
 Supporting and representing
recreational scuba diving clubs and their members.
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