Christine Webster, Murray Pioneer

The owners of about 30 boats found themselves moored around Renmark after a build-up of silt and low River Murray levels in two areas prevented them from travelling to Wentworth, in south-west NSW, for a popular rally.

Owners of the PB Curlew, Jim and Heather Maywald, from Good Hope Landing, east of Waikerie, said it was disappointing for the boat owners who were unable to pass though Warrakoo and an area below Lock 7 to take part in last weekend’s Wentworth Junction Rally.

“There are a couple of tricky spots where the river is shallow from sand deposits and the vessels can’t get through,” Mr Maywald said.

“Since the flood it has gotten worse,” he said.

Mr Maywald and his wife left Waikerie on 24 June and found themselves unable to reach Wentworth.

“About 18 paddle wheelers were travelling up from SA and various other houseboats and cruisers,” he said.

Among the boats were several from Mannum that started their journey around 17 June.

On 26 June, the Maywalds and several other boats who were in the same predicament decided to moor at Renmark instead.

“It was a bit awkward with all the riverfront development underway,” Mr Maywald said.

The couple and other boat operators spent last week in Renmark visiting the Woolshed Brewery and Chowilla Station, before making their way back home to Good Hope Landing.

Mr Maywald said groynes that had been placed along the River Murray, during the early years of the paddle boat industry, were no longer pushing water into the navigation channels.

He said it was unfortunate water management authorities were unable to clear the channels to allow SA boaties to travel to Wentworth.

“We have been told they would have to double the flow of the river to clear the area below Lock 7 to allow the water to go through,” he said.

“It is a sad situation that they can’t clear a couple of channels for us.

“It is not rocket science. If the flood has deposited the sand, let’s remove it so that boats can still navigate along the river.”

Mr Maywald said it was also disappointing for the organisers of the Wentworth Junction Rally, with numerous boats from SA wanting to take part.

“They would not have had the number of boats they had hoped taking part in the event,” he said.

The Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) said it actively looks for opportunities to support recreational events.

“We publish our annual operating outlook and provide river flows on our website as well as outlining how we are operating each week in the River Murray weekly report to support community events,” an MDBA spokesperson said.

This article appeared in the Murray Pioneer, 10 July 2024.