Speaking this week in his capacity as Chairman of the Athlone River Safety Awareness group, Cllr Aengus O’Rourke, has called upon the relevant stakeholders to unite and formulate a safety proposal to mitigate the risk levels to those using the Coosan Point amenity.
“Coosan Point is a very popular amenity and it has become even more popular during the pandemic as numerous individuals have tended to gravitate towards the outdoors and to the water.
“In the lake at Coosan Point we have fishing boats, speed boats, jet-skis, cruisers, the Lough Ree RNLI and, of course, open water swimmers. With the warmer weather now upon us it should be noted that more and more swimmers are using Coosan Point on a daily basis.
“As chairman of the Athlone River Safety Awareness group, I have been contacted by numerous people about safety in and on the water around Coosan Point.
“I have spoken to a number of stakeholders in recent weeks - Anglers, Lough Ree RNLI, Coosan Swimmers, Waterways Ireland and management in Westmeath County Council and there is a general consensus that a safety plan must be devised to mitigate the risks associated with so much activity on the water in such a concentrated area.
“Land access to the water is under the control of Westmeath County Council and the water then is the remit of Waterways Ireland. So, I am calling on both of these lead organisations to host a meeting that would bring all of the water-based groups using Coosan Point together. Such a meeting would give everyone an opportunity to discuss the issues and also examine the potential actions that could be taken.
“Coosan Point is a special area of conservation and a bird sanctuary - ducks, waterhens, swans and other birds are in plentiful supply in the area. So, motorised craft and those visiting the area need to be mindful of this.
“Swimmers can be extremely vulnerable if they are not using the correct devices when they are in open water and if they are not using common sense. A dark swim cap for example can be easily mistaken as a bird in the water by a boat user. A duck or a bird will fly away as a boat approaches, but a swimmer is at huge risk if struck by a boat and propellor.
“As a public amenity Coosan Point is there for the enjoyment of young and old alike, swimmer and boat user. We simply need to put some ground rules in place to ensure everyone’s safety is properly considered. At the moment we have a free-for-all situation, but this cannot be sustained.
“Greater controls also need to be considered around the use of jet-skis and speed boats. Their use should be confined to the open lake, well away from public amenities.
“I will ensure that the two lead agencies, Westmeath County Council and Waterways Ireland come together and liaise with the relevant groups to find a reasonable solution,” Cllr O’Rourke asserted.
