January 1 deadline for registration of vessel moorings in Mandurah

 

Boat moorings in the Peel area will be subject to new controls to improve safety, access and their impact on the environment.

The Department of Transport (DoT) last week proclaimed the Peel Mooring Control Area as part of State wide strategy to establish to address the continued proliferation of unauthorised moorings and their adverse impact.

DoT A/Marine Safety Operations Director Ray Buchholz said the new mooring control area covered all waters of the Mandurah, Peel and Harvey Estuaries, the Murray and Serpentine Rivers and a portion of Comet Bay adjacent to the entrance of the Mandurah Estuary.

"Owners of moorings in these areas now have three months to formally register their mooring with DoT," Mr Buchholz said

"For the first time mooring owners will have certainty of access to their mooring. There are approximately 100 moorings in the area and the new mooring control area will provide for the future management of these and expected growth."

The move follows the successful introduction over the past 12 months of a mooring management regime in Rockingham with more than 450 previously unregulated moorings being registered.

Mr Buchholz said existing moorings within the area had been tagged and owners are now requested to visit their mooring to identify their allocated tag number when submitting their application.

As part of the process, DoT will also be working with key stakeholders to identify and agree on zones within the wider mooring control area where moorings will be permitted. Applicants with a legitimate claim for an existing mooring outside these zones will be offered an alternative site within the mooring control area.

Once this process is complete, DoT will consider applications from individuals to install additional moorings if there is sufficient space within the agreed mooring zones. A moratorium on the installation of new moorings is now in place, however individuals interested in installing a mooring in the future will be placed on a wait list.

“As part of formal registration process, boat owners will be required to have their mooring inspected by a recognised contractor and ensure their mooring buoy meets the minimum requirements set by DoT," Mr Buchholz said.

Applicants will be required to pay an application fee of $79.00 and an inaugural annual hiring fee on registration of $84.80. The subsequent annual hiring fee will be $447.90 for exclusive use of the mooring.

Mr Buchholz said DoT would also be installing five public use moorings within Comet Bay for use by boat owners on a first in first serve basis for periods up to 72 hours.

“This initiative will remove the need for many existing mooring owners to maintain moorings in Comet Bay for occasional use,” Mr Buchholz said.

An information session on the new mooring control area will be held in Mandurah on 3rd October 2011 and commencing at 7.00pm at:

Mandurah Marina Marine Operations Centre
107 Breakwater Parade
MANDURAH WA 6210