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Work will commence as soon as possible to move seagrass wrack and restore part of the sandy shoreline of the Western Beach at Port Geographe ready for the holidays.

The Department of Transport (DoT) is undertaking the work and will engage contractors who will use earthmoving equipment to push the seagrass wrack to clear the shoreline.

DoT Director Coastal Facilities Donna West said the work is additional to the maintenance campaign already announced for the Western Beach, marina entrance and Wonnerup, to provide benefits for locals and visitors this summer.

“To maintain safe navigation and ensure the water quality within the marina, dredging of the Port Geographe entrance channel is generally required during spring and early summer. This is to clear the entrance to safe depths for vessels and allows the marina to flush with clean water from Geographe Bay with the tides,” Ms West said.

“It’s anticipated the marina dredging will be completed in the next few weeks prior to the busy summer holiday period.”

Ms West said a special meeting to discuss the coastal management at Port Geographe, convened by the City at the request of DoT, was planned for Thursday December 5, 2019 and would involve community and stakeholder representatives.

“DoT working in partnership with the City, prior to and throughout the reconfiguration project has worked closely with the local community and remains committed to delivering the best outcome for the reconfiguration of the coastline at Port Geographe,” Ms West said. 

Port Geographe’s marina entrance and adjacent beaches are managed under the publicly available Port Geographe Environmental Monitoring and Management Plan. This outlines the management methods which can be employed to manage wrack and sand around the marina.

For a copy of the plan or more information visit Port Geographe reconfiguration.

Media contact: media@transport.wa.gov.au

Boating deaths in WA are at an all-time high following three recent tragedies and 15 fatalities in the last 15 months.

Marine authorities are warning skippers not to be complacent and highlighting that in an emergency on the water 30 seconds could be all the time skippers and passengers have to grab life-saving safety equipment.

The Department of Transport (DoT) is advocating all skippers take the 30 Second Challenge to ensure they’re ready for an emergency and save lives on the water this boating season.

 DoT implemented the 30 Second Challenge, which tests if people can gather flares, EPIRB, make a radio call and don a lifejacket in 30 seconds, after detailed analysis of incident data showed improved accessibility to safety equipment could limit lives lost on the water.

DoT Director of Waterways Safety Chris Mather said in August and September alone there were three deaths, bringing to 15 the number of boating fatalities in WA for the past 15 months compared with only five deaths for the 15 months prior.

“Tragically over the past three financial years 26 people have died while boating in WA compared with 14 for the previous three years,” Mr Mather said.

“It is strongly recommended people wear a lifejacket while boating as 26 of those 40 deaths (65 per cent) in the past six years may have been prevented if the person had been wearing a lifejacket when they entered the water.

“Skippers need to be responsible, taking time to complete the recommended voyage preparation guidelines every time they head out on to the water. Unfortunately, skippers who fail to do this put their safety and that of those on board at risk.

“Spending time this spring preparing for a safe summer of boating could save your life.”

People can visit the DoT website  to find out how to take the challenge.

Media contact: media@transport.wa.gov.au

The Department of Transport (DoT) is aware of an incident involving a tug towing a barge in waters south west of Perth. 

The tug ‘Quenda’ was travelling from Henderson to Bunbury yesterday and overnight some sections of the barge broke away while transiting.

No injuries have been reported as a result of the incident.

DoT is Western Australia’s lead agency responsible for ensuring an effective response to marine transport and environmental emergencies and incidents in State waters.  DoT is working with the barge owner, Southern Ports Authority, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) and WA Police Marine Search and Sea Rescue to recover the missing sections of the barge.

Members of the public are encouraged to notify DoT’s Marine Pollution hotline if they locate any parts of the barge or see any evidence of marine pollution.

DoT’s Marine Pollution hotline number is (08) 9480 9924 (24 hours) or people can email marine.pollution@transport.wa.gov.au
 
A navigational warning to mariners has been issued by DoT and recreational vessel skippers are cautioned to avoid the area between Bunbury and Mandurah until the recovery process is complete www.transport.wa.gov.au/imarine/navigational-warnings.asp

Media contact: Angelika Fawcett 0413 557 887