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Position Statements
Mission Statement
BoatingWA is a non profit
association, established for the promotion and development of safe, economic and
enjoyable recreational boating through Western Australia.
BoatingWA
PO Box 1080
Claremont 6910
Western Australia
FAX and Voice
08 93353296
e-mail;
secretary@boatingwa.com.au
Office
1 Capo D'Orlando Drive
Fremantle, Western Australia, 6160
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News of interest to Recreational Boaters and what is happening
around WA are available in our
Quarterly Newsletters.
Media
Statements
27/8/2010 Stern Lines
5/5/2010
Wake and Wash study on the Swan River
15/4/2010
Public comment sought for dinghy storage on
river foreshore
26/2/2010
Temporary Speed restriction in Swan River lifted
30/12/2009
Toxic Cup Yacht Race
22/12/2009
New navigation marker for Fish Rocks
7/12/2009
Garden Island Wave Plant
2/12/2009
Work to clear entrance channel at Port
Geographe
BWA'S Position Statements and Submissions
STERN LINES
The Voting Boating Public are entitled to more!
Boating Western Australia has a principle and unwavering determination as a volunteer
lobby group acting on behalf of recreational boaters to keep public awareness of the critical lack of
boating facilities in this state in front of Government.
We have frequently in the past illustrated that nearly 26% of the Western Australian population,
(men, women and children) are involved in some way with either a recreational boating activity or a
recreational boating business.
To confirm this :
1. There are approximately 90,000 registered recreational vessels in WA, and nominally in the
order of 15,000 unregistered vessels in WA (dinghies, trainers etc).
2. These 105,000 vessels with an average active involvement of 3 crew and/or guests equates
to 315,000 people who are actively engaged in recreational boating. This alone is in the
order of 15% of the West Australian population.
3. Add in the staffing and volunteer involvement at Yacht Clubs, Marinas and racking facilities.
4. Add in those personnel in the service industry – consider Brokers, Shipwrights, Chandlers, Marine mechanics, Marine Electricians, Boat Builders and all other associated trades and we can therefore comfortably claim that these combinations represent in the order of 26% of the population – who are involved in some way with recreational boating.
Consider also the fact that yachting fosters character building competition. It promotes good clean
healthy sporting activity in a family environment, that keeps young minds active and young people off
the streets. As do all other sporting programs, boating keeps families together and the value of this to
our social fabric should never be underestimated.
Given the absolute responsibility of Governments to provide facilities for the constituents, it is barely believable that it is 22 years since a public boat ramp was built in metropolitan Perth.
Marina and pen facilities are in a similar critical absence and the wait list for pens grows every month
as the inactivity of Government continues. Statistics show us that boat registrations in Western
Australia are growing at a rate of 4,000 per year ( 5,500 per year prior to the economic crisis).
In discussions with Planning Minister John Day (earlier this year) it was reasoned that given the
population density development in WA has always been, and continues to be along the coast, that any approval for a coastal development should be absolutely conditional on the developer providing “pro-rata” marina development to housing establishment.
We can easily reason that 26% of the people coming into any new development will be involved in
recreational boating and we should ensure from the outset that they are adequately provided for in the
development plan and facilities .
Economic impact of the lack of facilities
1. The Rottnest Island Authority acknowledge in their latest 5 year plan, that 30% of visitors to the Island arrive by recreational vessel. The return to the Authority on a nett basis on mooring license fees is the biggest single income source on their budget revenue sheet.
2. The Boating Industry Association (BIA) reveal that $1.6 billion (yes – that’s BILLION not million) was generated by recreational boaters in Western Australia during 2006 alone. In that same year, $62 million in export revenue was created for the state. Without question, recreational boaters tend to
spend holiday dollars in and on their boats locally, rather than on international or interstate trips – this keeps the funds circulating in our own state economy.
The crisis in the lack of boating facilities, particularly pens, is stifl ing the boating industry and consumer activity. If all of the programs envisaged by Government for the provision of facilities over the next five years were delivered – completed tomorrow, not even the current backlog of demand would be met. We note that in recent media releases from the Department of Transport, that 111 pens have been delivered in the last two years at Hillarys and Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbours.
If you compare that with the actual new registrations of vessels over that same period – this presents a vivid picture of the inadequacy of our State Program.
In a further recent media release it was disclosed by Government that $65 million would be allocated
to the provision of recreational boating facilities through the Royalties for Regions Program.
Surely, this must take enormous pressure off budgetary constraints for the provision of facilities in the metropolitan area.
Sadly, in recent years it would seem that not only has the Government failed to deliver facilities to the boating community, has stood as a barrier between the public and private enterprise in the provision of recreational boating facilities.
All that is needed is an approved site – private capital will do the rest.
Boat wash tests completed on Swan River
The Swan River Trust
has completed full scale field trials of boat wash and wind waves on the
Swan River to verify results in its groundbreaking 2009 report,
Investigation into the Effect of Wash of Boats and Wind Waves on the Swan
River.
The field trials
confirmed that a reduction in boat speed limits in sections of the Swan
River would dramatically reduce the potential for shoreline erosion, damage
to wildlife habitats and disruption to other aquatic users.
Trust Riverpark Manager
Chris Mather said the results would be used to help inform a major review of
aquatic usage on the Swan and Canning rivers in a collaborative arrangement
between the Trust and Department of Transport.
“Involving extensive
stakeholder and community consultations, the review will begin later this
year and include a review of speed limits on the river along with other
management strategies,“ Mr Mather said.
Boat wash and wind
waves were measured at different locations on the Swan River including
Ashfield Parade and Quarry Point. Nine different hull forms were tested
across a range of boat speeds and distances from the shoreline.
The
results from trials at Ashfield Parade showed that the speed of 8 knots (the
present speed limit) roughly corresponds to the highest-energy boat wake for
most recreational vessels.
Only
at speeds less than 6 knots did all the vessels produce less wave energy
than the extreme wind waves at Ashfield parade. At 5 knots, all vessels
produced minimal wash.
Wind
wave measurements were also carried out at these locations in order to
validate the empirical method used for wind
wave predictions.
Captain Cook Cruises
and Rottnest Express provided ferries and Boating Industry of Western
Australia (BIAWA)
organised a range of aluminium and fibreglass recreational vessels belonging
to their members. The Trust vessel Noel Robins was also tested.
Riverpark Manager Chris
Mather said the support of ferry operators and BIAWA was a big boost to the
research.
“There is little local
research available on boat wash and wind waves so we are pleased to be
adding to the knowledge available,” Mr Mather said.
“The research is part of a bigger strategy
to understand the effects of boating on the Swan and Canning rivers,” he
said.
The second stage
research was undertaken by Curtin University’s Centre for Marine Science and
Technology for the Swan River Trust. The Trust worked in
collaboration with the Department of Transport.
The report is available on the Swan River
Trust’s website at
www.swanrivertrust.wa.gov.au

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Public comment sought for dinghy storage on river foreshore
Public comment is being
sought on a draft management framework for dinghies along the Swan and
Canning rivers.
Environment Minister Donna
Faragher said the aim of the framework was to minimise damage to the
foreshore, without impacting on the river’s recreational opportunities.
“There has been a big
growth in dinghies on river foreshores in recent years and we need to
manage the effect this is having on the riverbanks,” Mrs Faragher said.
“Attaching a vessel to
vegetation or installing devices to secure dinghies on the foreshore can
cause damage and lead to erosion of the riverbanks.
“The proposed management
framework seeks to allow storage of dinghies to continue in appropriate
areas and maintain public access to the river shoreline.
“It also outlines how to
reduce the effects of dinghy storage on the foreshore, allow sensitive
areas of river shoreline to be rehabilitated and prevent the alienation
of public open spaces.”
The draft dinghy
management framework was supported by a discussion paper that outlined
the considerations used to develop the plan. This included a
questionnaire of riverside residents in two municipalities, foreshore
users and mooring licensees.
The Minister said support
for councils to manage dinghy use and provide storage systems for the
boating community was also discussed.
“The plan recommends that
dinghies be stored on shorelines in an approved storage system, managed
by local government,” she said.
“I recognise there are
different and divergent views in the community regarding the use and
storage of dinghies on our rivers and the State Government is interested
in comments from all river users.”
The draft
framework is a recommendation of the Swan River Trust’s Boating
Management Strategy for the Swan-Canning Riverpark (February 2009)
which provides a
framework for managing
boating activities.
Public comment on the
draft policy closes at 5pm on July 12, 2010. The draft framework an
discussion paper are available at
http://www.swanrivertrust.wa.gov.au
or by phoning 9278 0900.
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Temporary Speed restriction in Swan River lifted
A speed restriction on the Swan River between the Narrows bridge and Quarry
Point west of the old swan brewery, which was implemented last September for
river wall works, has been lifted.

The race is on for the annual
Toxic Cup
People are invited to get in on the action Saturday 9 January 2010, as yachties
from around Perth flex their muscles at the 11th River Clubs Leighton
Offshore Invitation Race.
Traditionally known as the Swan River Trust Toxic Cup, the race commemorates the
2000 algal bloom which closed the Swan River to recreational events for 12
days.
Host East Fremantle
Yacht Club has received a record number of entries from Royal Freshwater
Bay, Fremantle Sailing Club, South of Perth Yacht Club, Royal Perth Yacht Club,
the R30 Association and its own club members.
Time: 2.00pm
Date: Saturday 9 January 2010
Location: Off Leighton Beach, North Fremantle

New navigation marker at Fish
Rocks
A new marker identifying the western limits of the
reef at Fish Rocks in Cockburn Sound
will significantly assist skippers navigating the area.
Department of Transport Manager of Navigational Safety and Compliance Ray
Buchholz
said the new west cardinal marker would complement the existing north cardinal
mark
showing the northern limit of the reef.
"Together the markers will provide safer navigation of the reef for an
increasing number of
vessels transiting the area," Mr Buchholz said.
Transport installed the western marker at Fish Rocks as part of its 2009/10
Navigation Aid
Capital Works Plan.
The marker, which cost more than $100,000 to install, is lit using solar power
and will
provide a guide for skippers navigating Fremantle to Cockburn Sound day and
night.
Mr Buchholz said Fish Rocks was a well known navigation hazard.
He said Transport was responsible for developing and maintaining an extensive
network of
navigation aids within WA waters to provide safe passage for recreational and
commercial
vessels.

Garden Island Wave Plant
I would like to
inform Boating WA, and obtain your feedback, on the installation and testing of
Carnegie Wave Energy Limited’s first full-scale CETO autonomous unit in State
Waters off Garden Island, Western Australia. An overview of the CETO autonomous
unit deployment is provided in ‘CETO Prototype Overview091106.pdf’, attached.
Further details on Carnegie and CETO can be found at
www.carnegiewave.com.
The project
consists of the installation of three elements; the CETO wave energy unit
itself, an attached data telemetry buoy and a surface mooring for CETO service
vessels. These three elements will be installed in water depths of 20 to 24m (LWM
Fremantle) approximately 2.5 km to the west of Garden Island in the Sepia
Depression. The CETO unit foundation is scheduled to be deployed via a jack-up
rig in mid to late December 2009 followed by installation of the CETO unit and
data buoy between January and March 2010.
Carnegie have
recently received a license from the WA Department of Regional Development and
Lands (DRDL), as managers of the seabed at the offshore location, for the
installation and operation of a single autonomous CETO unit. A thorough
assessment of environmental issues was undertake by Carnegie to support this
application, including extensive stakeholder consultation. The purpose of this
email is to add to ongoing consultation ahead of the unit installation and
through CETO unit operation and testing over the next few years. Carnegie has
also received maritime safety approval from the WA Department of Transport (DoT)
as required under regulation 8 of the Navigable Waters Regulations 1958. The
project site will be marked with cardinal marks and notice to mariners posted to
all marine users at each stage of the installation and operation of the unit in
accordance with DoT approval.
I would very
much appreciate your feedback on the single CETO unit installation and any
concerns from your members. Should you require further information, please do
let me know.


Work set to begin
on clearing entrance channel at Port Geographe
Work
will soon begin on a project to remove 12,000 cubic metres of seagrass and sand
restricting access to the marina and canals at Port Geographe.
Transport Minister Simon O'Brien said the Department of Transport had recognised
the need to act urgently to address the issue after skippers reported
difficulties navigating the channel.
The
$421,000 dredging project would be funded from a bank guarantee from the
developer and other commercial entities as required by the Port Geographe
Development Deed.
The
Port Geographe developer has ceased work on the project indefinitely due to
funding problems and has failed to honour ongoing coastal maintenance work
obligations.
Mr
O'Brien said dredging of the channel would start in early December and continue
for five weeks to completely clear the channel. A further three weeks of
dredging outside the channel may be needed to remove material that could drift
into the channel if left in its current location.
"CGC
Dredging, which has previous experience in dredging at Port Geographe, has been
engaged to undertake the work and it was confident the project would be
completed by early February," he said.
"In
addition, Transport has employed a local engineer to oversee the project and
special signage will be available on site to inform the community of the scope
of the project.”
The
dredged material will be pumped offshore to an approved site approximately 400
metres east of Port Geographe, allowing for its natural dispersion within
Geographe Bay.
Vessels operating in the Port Geographe area for the duration of the dredging
project are advised to navigate with caution.

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