GOOD NEWS FOR TRAILER BOATERS WHO FREQUENT PORT STEPHENS

Port Stephens Boat Owners are set to benefit from $440,000 of funding approved by the NSW government. Read the full text of the article announcing the funding, that appeared in the Port Stephens Examiner.

New WEEKDAY SPIT BRIDGE OPENING TIMES.

The RTA has announced new weekday Spit Bridge opening times to operate from February 8, which they claim will improve traffic flow for motorists. For details, please go to the RTA Website.

Has the NSW Government adopted MACHIAVELLIAN PRACTICES WHERE the end justifies the means AND the attainment and maintenance of power IS conditional upon the use of cunning, scheming and unscrupulous methods?

EXAMPLES:

EAST SYDNEY HARBOUR MOORING FEES

A NSW Government budget decision will increase mooring fees on the eastern side of the harbour, by 30% or more. Why, because they can and because the area is not a government support base. Read more in the BOA Newsletter cover story

Lake Macquarie (Swansea) Channel

Also appalling, is the selective manner in which NSW Maritime chooses to service and maintain assets for which it is responsible – the service and maintenance of which is fully funded by boat owner registration fees. A very fine example of this concerns the Swansea Channel at Lake Macquarie Read more in the BOA Newsletter cover story.

NSW MARITIME EXPENDITURE

Like other government departments, the NSW Maritime accounts fail to disclose enough detail to track through how revenues raised are applied. In particular, it fails to disclose how revenues raised from its regulatory activities are applied and, separately, how revenues raised from its non regulatory activities are applied. Read more in the BOA Newsletter cover story

LIFEJACKETS - CHANGES ARE AFOOT and your help is needed.

A total of 174 lives have been lost in boating incidents in NSW over the last 10 years. More than half those fatalities resulted from a person falling overboard or a vessel capsizing. In the interest of improved safety, NSW Maritime is seeking comment on proposals to change lifejacket rules. Your views and feedback on this important safety issue will be most appreciated. To read the discussion paper and fill out an online survey, please go to http://maritime.optin.com.au/a?1i410469-282899.00i.002. 

DISPOSAL OF DATE EXPIRED EMERGENCY FLARES

The NSW Marine Recreational Vessel Advisory Group has advised that NSW Maritime are in the process of organising acceptance of date expired emergency flares at their various offices. A commencement date and details of acceptance locations, are yet to be advised. It is assumed that NSW Maritime will make an announcement in the near future. Read the full text of this article written by David Lyall of the BOA for the Afloat Magazine. 

GLOBAL WARMING - JUST THE FACTS

Frank Talbot is the Adjunct Professor for the Graduate School of the Environment at Macquarie University - Read more on what he has to say about global warming in the latest BOA Newsletter 

REFUGE BAY GARBAGE BARGE

By now, boating visitors to Pittwater would know that the garbage barge in Refuge Bay has been removed - primarily because some people are using it for the disposal of inappropriate rubbish.  The BOA has asked NSW Maritime to consider restoring the facility and offered assistance to both it, National Parks and Wildlife and local clubs in determining ways to prevent the inappropriate dumping of rubbish. For more detail, see the latest BOA Newsletter.