Continual rise in Gold Coast boating registrations
Marine Safety Queensland says the continual rise on vessel registrations, both recreational and commercial, are highlighting safety concerns on Gold Coast waterways because of 'booming water traffic.' 
'Gold Coast, boats, boats and more boats'
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According to Marine Safety Queensland, there are now 29,860 vessels registered on the Gold Coast, while Snr Sgt Mark Kelly, of the Gold Coast Water Police, said there had been "an explosion" at the top end of the market.
A Queensland Transport spokesman told local newspaper the Gold Coast Bulletin that improvements to on-water safety were under constant review.
He said there were safety concerns due to the growth in boating across the coast, not merely confined to a particular area or type of vessel operation," he said.
Tourism, regarded by many as the coast's major dollar earner, has also contributed to crowded conditions afloat, particularly in the use of personal watercraft and jet skis.
Eight companies on the Gold Coast, six of them fronting the Southport Broadwater, operate personal water craft hire. Many hirers are thought to be tourists and first time users inexperienced in personal water craft operation.
Hire operators are required to give only 30 minutes instruction to their customers. One tourist, a British man, was killed in May when his hired water craft collided with the anchor chain of a moored vessel.
Kinglsey Parker, proprietor of Bundall Boat Licence Testing Centre, said improved safety instruction and training were needed.
The State Government has previously stated it would consider a review of the recreational jet ski and personal water craft industry after the completion of an inquiry into May's fatal accident.
Despite the call for increased regulations, Snr Sgt Kelly denied the amount of traffic on the coast's waters was a major concern. "There have not been that many collisions and the ones that have been reported have not resulted in high speed impact," he added.
by Bob Wonders
Margaret River or Osborne Park (severne shop), WA
