Greetings: The summary of…

Greetings:

The summary of the proposal does not clearly distinguish between vessels (with related accommodation) and floating homes, where navigation is a minor activity.

It is submitted that this is a fundamental difference and already vessels are protected in law. It appears the current objective is to limit floating homes, and is perhaps desirable and needed somewhat.

Today vessels do anchor with 300 m of private vacant land. The proposed restriction, in part, limits a right to anchor (at least one category of user) to stay outside 300 m of any structure constructed. There are many instances where land owners today could merely add a dock, unlikely to be used to their existing accommodation and at times around a corner, to unreasonably limited overnight stay in navigable waterways.

If it is intended that current anchoring use by “real” vessels (eg sailboats) is not to be affected by a restriction intended for “houseboats”, then this should be clearly stated in any summary and final version of the Regulation. The two categories distinguished here should be recognized and treated differently if the recent invasion of “floating homes” is to be restricted.