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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 11 Hansard (26 September) . . Page.. 3285 ..

MR STANHOPE (continuing):

charge, which would have been required to obtain the warrant in the first place. This, in fact, removes an unnecessary step in the process.

These amendments will make administration of the act simpler. In addition, the offences will be more consistent internally.

I commend the bill to the Assembly.

Debate (on motion by Mr Cornwell ) adjourned to the next sitting.

Lakes Amendment Bill 2002

Mr Stanhope, on behalf of Mr Wood, pursuant to notice, presented the bill and its explanatory memorandum.

Title read by Clerk.

MR STANHOPE (Chief Minister, Attorney-General, Minister for Health, Minister for Community Affairs and Minister for Women) (11.21): I move:

That this bill be agreed to in principle.

Mr Speaker, today I bring to the Assembly a bill to amend the Lakes Act 1976. The Lakes Act 1976 prohibits the use of powerboats on or in a lake without an authorisation. The act provides a mechanism for obtaining an authorisation to use a powerboat on or in a lake within the ACT. The bulk of all powerboat use in the ACT is for water skiing on the Molonglo Reach, the body of water upstream of the Dairy Road bridge. Currently, all powerboat owners, including ACT residents using the reach, must hold an interstate boat licence and boat registration before they can apply for an authorisation to use their boat in the ACT.

The amendments will allow us to set up an arrangement where interstate licence holders driving registered boats will not need to fill in any paperwork to be able to use the water skiing area at Molonglo Reach, provided they use the booking system. The bill also provides for the minister to establish conditions for the use of powerboats under this arrangement. This power will be used to impose appropriate safety conditions and require use of the booking system mentioned. These changes to the act will remove the need for an unnecessary administrative procedure, while still maintaining safety for users of the area.

The bill also amends the act to update the reference to the Environment Protection Authority. This follows on the change to the name of that authority from Environment Management Authority made last year.

Mr Speaker, I commend the bill to the Assembly.

Debate (on motion by Mr Cornwell ) adjourned to the next sitting.

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