Floating Pontoons in Batemans Bay CBD

 Andrew Constance the local Member and Minister for Transport which includes Maritime has this morning announced that the floating pontoons east of the concrete T-Wharf which the Association has been advocating to be built for a number of years will go ahead.

Thanks Minister for listening and heeding the logical Community support for this interface between the CBD and our great water the Clyde River.

In the Statement he said: "The community will begin to notice work beginning on foreshore improvements like the floating pontoon, which will deliver more boat berths than originally proposed and better access to the CBD.

“Survey and design work is being carried out for the pontoon which will be located downstream of the existing T-wharf, on the CBD side of the river,” Mr Constance said.

“The pontoon will improve access to the foreshore and town centre and increase berthing opportunities for river users when it opens for use.”

The attached artiest impression clearly shows how more activity will take place on the Batemans Bay Foreshore and re-energise this area. All the Association wishes for is for Council in the new Draft Plan for the Foreshore is to maintain the Clyde Street Boat Ramp and place a pontoon adjacent to this to assist less able boaters and fishers use their boats and access the proposed pontoons on the foreshore and the upper reaches of the Clyde River.

Foreign Vessel up the Clyde River

 This is a new foreign vessel up the river. Did you notice? Yes the Singaporean registered barge came out of survey a few weeks ago and was required to travel to Brisbane for an out-of-water survey.

Did it? No The contractor requested a further extension to the already out of date survey but the Singapore authorities said no.

So what did the John Holland (Transport for NSW) do? Simple register the vessel in the Cooke Islands without a survey. Why? Because the safety and environmental requirements for a Cooke Island vessel are much lower and less strict. So this working platform for all the tradies may not be safe and the water discharge requirements are just not the same.

Thankfully AMSA has taken a hard line on foreign vessels entering Australian waters over the last few months banning 4 vessels from our port because they are not safe and not compliant. Will AMSA visit the 1807 barge and check the safety equipment and working conditions?

Will the local Member and Minister for Maritime condone unsafe working conditions from his subcontractors just to finish the bridge?

Questions. Questions but as always we never get straight answers.

Labor Shadow Minister for Crown Lands visits Marina

 Labor Shadow Minister for Crown Lands Ms Tara Moriarty MLC visited Batemans Bay to view for herself some of the issues confronting fishers and boaters. Accompanying her were the Vice President of the Recreational Fishing Alliance Max Castle and President of the BB Boaters Association.

The Liberal Minister for Crown Lands initiated a report submitted four years ago to the Department outlining more than 50 non-compliance issue covering safety, fire and electrical non-conformity at the marina. The Department has since commissioned three external engineering report and one internal report arising from the Associations 6,500 word submission.

In June 2020 the Department still would not confirm that all the issues have been addressed and that the marina is safe for the public to use. The ongoing safety and non-compliance issues at the Marina were explained to the Shadow Minister as was the lack of response from the local Liberal Minister. The Department of Crown Land's conduct has been brought into question.

The opening of the northern shore boat ramp at old Punt Road for river users has, even during the first week, not been a great success with a river punt sinking in the rough and unsuitable conditions as it traversed the channel from Hanging Rock to the middle reaches of the Clyde River. If it was not for the quick actions of one of the public to alert the police and Marine Rescue the two occupants may well have been swept out to sea clinging to their upturned vessel. Hanging Rock boat ramp is not a suitable launching location for low free-board river vessels. The movement of the smooth water limits to the end of the break-wall was only implemented so John Holland could claim that an alternative boatramp was available to boaters and fishers. Thankfully the current disaster did not turn into a tragedy.

Shadow Minister stated it was a productive meeting covering many issues involving the use of Crown Lands along the CBD foreshore. She was concerned about the safety at the BB Marina and the lack of response by the Department.

The removal of the Clyde Street boat ramp also located on Crown Lands, while a local issue managed by Council would require Crown Lands involvement and the Minister’s approval. She will be following the final recommendation which are likely to again come before Council next month.

The Recreational Fishing Alliance and the Boaters will be consulting widely as these issues develop. Does the closing of the boatramps west of the bridge impact you?