Ski Race at Lake Bonney Cancelled Over Permit Hurdles

A water skiing competition in South Australia's Riverland has been called off because the organizers stated they couldn't fulfill the required permit conditions.

It follows that South Australia's Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT) and the sport's governing body, Ski Racing Australia, had previouslyconfirmed that the event was not officially approved.

The gathering, arranged by an organization known as Riverland Water Ski Racing SA and publicized via Facebook in early December, was set to occur at Lake Bonney on February 7 and 8.

It was planned to have 17 races, some of which would involve drivers being pulled by motorboats traveling at speeds as high as 144 km/h.

The event advertised entry fees of $350 per boat and $300 per person on its Facebook page, with 130 participants in 27 boats confirmed to attend as of January 21.

However, in a social media post, Riverland Water Ski Racing SA mentioned that Marine Safety SA had "provided a last-minute list of permit requirements" that was "unrealistic to fulfill" so near to the event occurring.

'Further clarification' required

In a statement, a DIT representative stated that it was still assessing an application submitted by the organizers for an aquatic activity permit when it was informed about the event's cancellation.

The department mentioned it had contacted to obtain "additional explanation and paperwork from the organizer" as part of its evaluation procedure.

"We had been conducting an in-depth examination of the application ... to assess whether adequate assurance was given that risks to participants, officials, and other river users could be properly controlled," the DIT representative stated.

The department informed the ABC that it had received an aquatic activity licence request from Riverland Water Ski Racing SA on January 16 — two weeks before the event was scheduled to occur.

The department mandates that applications for such a permit must be lodged "at least four weeks prior to the event," and a minimum of four weeks' notice is necessary "to ensure the permit can be granted before the event."

The Riverland Water Ski Racing SA did not respond to inquiries from the ABC regarding the event's cancellation.

In a social media update this week, it mentioned "all paid memberships will be refunded" as it focuses on returning the event "to the water."

Racing under review 

The country's governing body, Ski Racing Australia, iscurrently conducting a more comprehensive evaluationregarding its approach to managing risks after the cancellation of racing events in 2024.

The assessment suggested banning all water ski racing on river tracks and implementing a constant speed restriction of 110km/h for all towing operations.

DIT stated that the results of the review, conducted by the NSW Government, are "expected to guide upcoming ski racing events."

The department verified that its personnel will be working in the Riverland over the weekend to maintain adherence to regulations at Lake Bonney.

"Marine Safety Officers will be on duty in the Riverland this weekend to observe activities and ensure adherence to regulations, such as speed limits and other safety measures, to guarantee the safety of everyone using the waterways," it stated.