Tuesday 31 January 2006

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority is seeking expressions of interest from those interested in participating in an innovative mooring proposal in the Whitsunday area.

The proposal, which is an enhancement to the Whitsunday Reef Protection Programme, follows requests from the tourism industry and community to both the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service to investigate opportunities to provide additional public moorings in this area through a dedicated use programme.

GBRMPA Executive Director Andrew Skeat said dedicated use moorings seemed a viable option.

“Consultation revealed support in the Whitsunday area for the concept of private funding to assist in providing new moorings at key sites. These new moorings would provide better environmental protection in these areas,” he said.

The GBRMPA is investigating how a partnership arrangement through private investment could increase public moorings and reef protection markers at popular tourism and recreation sites.

“It is anticipated the proposal could see marine infrastructure, such as moorings, installed and maintained at the proponents’ expense in return for the dedicated use of these moorings for specified periods throughout the day. For the rest of the time, the mooring would be publicly available to be used by other visitors to these sites which would minimise anchor damage in these areas,” Mr Skeat said.

“We are very keen to ensure this opportunity is available to all interested parties and are urging anyone interested in dedicated use moorings to register their interest.”

The initiative has been welcomed by tourism operators, recreational users and conservation groups.

Col McKenzie from the Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators agreed the proposal had many potential benefits.

“The proposal is a potential win-win for those in the tourism industry and others interested in ensuring viable tourism and recreational use of the Marine Park,” he said.

Yachting Queensland Executive Officer Bruce Chapman praised the potential benefits to recreational reef users.

“This initiative could potentially increase the number of moorings available for recreational users in the Whitsunday area and I strongly encourage the GBRMPA to investigate this opportunity further.”

A local conservationist group has also thrown its support behind the initiative. Tony Fontes, member of the Order of the Underwater Coral Heroes (OUCH) volunteers, said he could see a range of benefits to the initiative.

“As someone who lives in the area and is interested in the preservation of the Marine Park, I can see the community and environmental benefits of the proposal and am highly supportive of the initiative. It is something we have been looking forward to for a long time,” he said.

During the current registration of interest phase, proponents are required register their interest in the proposal and nominate preferred mooring locations. Sites will be assessed addressing possible impact of mooring installation, natural and cultural values and existing use of the site.

Registrations must be received in writing to the GBRMPA by close of business 6 March 2006. Information packages are available online at www.gbrmpa.gov.au under “latest news” or from the GBRMPA Tourism and Recreation Group on (07) 4750 0788.