Shaw shared the IWA's concern that marina and moorings developments, particularly in rural areas, should include small scale lower priced moorings, such as lay byes and community/boat-club operations, as well as the more glamorous multi-facility marinas.

He was made aware that the IWA has asked BW to promote such opportunities to waterside landowners and not solely concentrate on the larger scale marinas that can prove more difficult on planning approval.

The minister also explained he had begun the process of forming an inter-departmental group for waterways issues, as recommended in the recent select committee inquiry into BW.

The group would ensure that government departments would not work in isolation on the waterways, as many aspects were now seen to cross government department boundaries, such as heritage, regeneration and the carriage of freight by water.