WA Maritime Government Agencies

 

The Department of Transport

Marine Safety Business Unit purpose is to provide safe navigation and safe use of State waters, protect the marine environment and provide for an effective response to marine emergencies.

Marine Safety fulfils their role through:

  • Ensuring greater compliance by commercial and recreational boaters with marine regulations and standards.
  • Minimising the impact of marine pollution.
  • Providing expert marine safety advice and infrastructure to aid safe navigation in State waters.
  • Educating and training the community in safe, sustainable use of State waters.

Coastal Facilities Business Unit manages a range of public and private maritime facilities, licences jetties and mooring areas and maritime facility property administration.

Transport Industry Policy Section

  • The oversighting of Port Authorities and Maritime Policy issues
  • Facilitate the development and implementation of infrastructure to meet the increasing export trade demand through the State's ports
  • Develop and provide a consolidated State position in relation to transport and infrastructure issues on the National agenda

The Department administers the following ports:

  • Port of Yampi Sound
  • Port of Wyndham
  • Port of Derby
  • Port Walcott
  • Port of Varanus Island
  • Port of Barrow Island
  • Port of Onslow
  • Port of Carnarvon

 

The West Australian Planning Commission

Coastal Planning - The WAPC assists in the development of important coastal plans to guide land use and management of the State's coastal resources.

 

Landcorp and Department of Industry and Resources

The Australian Marine Complex is a world-class Centre of Excellence for manufacturing, fabrication, assembly, technology, repair and maintenance servicing activities in the marine, defence and resource industries.

It has been developed to facilitate and enhance the opportunities created by the clustering of these three industry sectors.

Home to the largest marine industry in Australia, Western Australia has already established international credentials for repair, maintenance and construction of quality ships and infrastructure for offshore oil and gas production, plus a broad range of world-class marine services.

 

The Department of Education and Training

Apprenticeships and Traineeships covering fields within the maritime sector.

 

Challenger TAFE

Situated in the heart of Western Australia's major port, the WA Maritime Training Centre - Fremantle is ideally positioned to deliver training in marine operations, marine engineering, STCW courses, aquaculture, marine studies, commercial fishing, marine tourism, and seafood processing, and contains the Aquaculture Development Unit applied research facility. The Centre is state-of-the-art and is equipped with the latest facilities including simulators, aquaculture hatchery and a fleet of six vessels including the 18-metre training vessel "Maritime Image".

 

Port Authorities

Western Australia's eight Port Authorities are:

The port authorities are autonomous bodies operating under their own Acts of Parliament and reporting directly to the Minister. They are commercialised entities with a trade facilitation charter defined by legislation.

 

Department for Consumer and Employment Protection

WorkSafe division is responsible for administrating the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 to promote and secure the safety and health of persons in the workplace including all persons working within the maritime sector.

Resources Safety
The key role of the Resources Safety division is to promote best practice in the areas of safety and health with companies (and their employees) involved in dangerous goods, mineral and onshore petroleum industries. This is achieved by educating and regulating industry through the administration of various Acts.

 

Environment Protection Authority

The EPA was established by Parliament as an independent Authority with the broad objective of protecting the State's environment, including it's coastlines and waterways.

 

Department for Environment

The Department of Environment key roles in resources assessment and allocation, coupled with strong environmental power, ensures sustainable use of resources including coastlines and waterways for responsible development.

Pollution Response Unit
The Pollution Response Unit provides:

  • First response to pollution incidents and emergencies 24/7
  • On-scene hazardous materials identification, sampling and monitoring during pollution incident and emergency
  • Advice on containment and clean-up
  • Training of Department staff in pollution incident response
  • Environmental advice to the Department, FESA and HEAT (WESTPLAN - HAZMAT, CBR) on pollution issues
    Prevention of pollution - blitz and pre-emptive strike strategy

Works Approval
Certain industries with a significant potential to pollute the environment must hold a Works Approval (for construction) and a License or Registration (for operation) under the Environment Protection Act 1986. This includes:
Boat building and maintenance: premises on which-

  • vessels are commercially built or maintained; and
  • organotin compounds are used or removed from vessels.

Aquaculture (natural waters): premises on which -

  • marine, estuarine or freshwater fish or prawns are propagated or reared; and
  • supplementary feeding occurs, in enclosures in naturally occurring waters.

Dredging projects
Proponents of dredging projects are encouraged to contact the relevant regional office of the Department of Environment in the first instance in relation to seeking advice on the environmental constraints and management procedures that would need to be applied. Contact details for the regional offices of the Department of Environment can be obtained from their Website.

Dredging proposals that are likely, if implemented to have a significant impact on the environment, should be referred to the Environmental Protection Authority.

 

The Swan River Trust

The Swan River Trust aims to work with government, local government and the community to ensure the Swan and Canning River System is conserved and managed to enhance its environmental quality and public amenity.