Upwards of 100 vessels are moored in a Sunshine Coast river where further anchoring restrictions are to be implemented next month.
Maritime Safety Queensland has announced that from May 31, vessels over 5m will be prohibited from anchoring within 30m of the northern shore of the Noosa River from the bar to Lake Cooroibah, including all of Goat Island.
They will also be prohibited from anchoring within 30m of the southern shore from Lake Doonella to Lake Weyba, including Makepeace and Sheep Islands.
A trial which allows vessels between 5m and 7.5m in length to anchor for two hours a day close to shore will continue for the time being and will apply to the new restricted anchoring zone.
The new restrictions are fifth of a six-stage Noosa River Management Plan to improve safety and amenity on the river.
The number of boats in the lower part of the river has swelled since the implementation of the fourth stage, involving anchoring restrictions along the southern shore of the river from Garth Prowd Bridge to Lake Doonella, Woods Bay and Little Woods Bay.
The new quasi marina view has not pleased all and some have described the boats as “clutter” and the river as “a parking lot”.
Noosa Heads resident Joanne Daley, a member of the Stakeholder Advisory Group which had input into the Noosa River reforms, was involved in recent count of vessels anchored in the river which put the tally at 115 although Maritime Safety Queensland have counted 140.
Ms Daley said it remained to be seen what would happen with the vessels once the new restrictions, including a 28-day anchoring limit in stage six due later this year, came into force.
“That’s 115 boats that are going to be affected by the 28-day anchoring,” she said.
“How is MSQ going to handle 115 boats that have to relocate?”
She said MSQ had previously advised that it had about 45 available moorings in the river.
“Only about half of them (the boats) can go on there,” she said.
Noosa Parks Association veteran Doctor Michael Gloster said moving vessels on to moorings could thin out boat numbers, if owners were required to provide proof that their vessels were insured.
“The government should be allowing MSQ to require insurance. To get insurance, you have to have a marine survey every two or three years,” he said.
Dr Gloster said a number of boats on the river were not in a seaworthy condition and would therefore not quality for insurance or a mooring.
“I reckon about a third to a quarter of them would be risks,” he said.
Dr Gloster, who has a mooring himself, said the future implementation of 28-day restrictions would put pressure on both the vessel owners and MSQ.
“There’s going to be a lot of boats sitting on the pick that are still going to be there after 28 days. What’s MSQ going to do with them?” he said.
An MSQ spokesperson said the organisation had noted “a high level of voluntary compliance” with the staged anchoring restrictions introduced so far and would continue to work with boat owners to realise the rest of the reforms.
“In progressing staged restrictions under the Noosa River Management Plan, MSQ has provided advice and worked with owners to comply with the restrictions. This will continue with the subsequent stages,” the spokesperson said.
“MSQ has a range of compliance options, including issuing fines or directions which could result in a court hearing for non-compliance.
“MSQ will assess the available space and maximise safe allocation of moorings. These will be allocated in accordance with MSQ policy, based on the current buoy mooring waiting list.”
The MSQ spokesperson said anchoring restrictions had been staged to allow vessel owners maximum time to make appropriate arrangements for their vessels.
The spokesperson said MSQ had consistently advised that if people had special circumstances that they would like considered, they should contact the local Noosa marine officers at MSQNoosa@tmr.qld.gov.au or 5373 2310.
David Arnold, operations manager of Youfloat, which runs holiday houseboats on the Noosa River, said the business would comply with any further restrictions on anchoring.
“Youfloat Pty Ltd does and will continue to comply with all the rules and regulations set down by all local, state and federal laws regarding the operation of vessels within its control, and thanks these departments for their continued help, education and directions dealing with not just (this) company but all vessel owners regarding the new anchorage restrictions within the Noosa Waterways,” he said.
