Crowded wharf outcry

THE shrinking capacity of the Triabunna marina to serve commercial fishing vessels is concerning local businesses and Glamorgan Spring Bay councillors.

And Glamorgan Spring Bay mayor Michael Kent has been forced to deny he has held meetings regarding a plan to sell the marina — among other land in Triabunna.

Glamorgan Spring Bay deputy mayor Cheryl Arnol has asked staff for a briefing on the future of the marina’s capacity for commercial fishing vessels after concerns from lo- cals about its declining ability to handle the trade.

“I’m not critical of what the council has done at the marina, that has been brilliant, but the evolution of the marina has reduced the wharf space for commercial vessels,” she said.

“They can only unload and then they have to move on … we have to support them.”

The marina has become more crowded because of the new and bigger Maria Island Ferry — with its size not allowing boats to park alongside each other.

Glamorgan Spring Bay councillor Debbie Wisby said the issue needed to be addressed for the town.

“The wharf space has reduced at a point where it is impacting on the existing and visiting fishing businesses and local businesses,” she said.

Wayne Davis, a visiting commercial fisherman who has been using the Triabunna marina for more than 30 years, said the council was being shortsighted in not thinking about the needs of commercial vessels.

“We also employ local people each year which is good for a small town — we spend a lot in the town,” he said.

“We support the town all these years and this is how we are treated.”

When asked about the issue at Tuesday night’s council meeting Glamorgan general manager David Metcalf said this was the first he had heard of the concerns, and a master- plan for the marina was being developed.

“We recognise that it’s ‘build it and they will come’ and they have definitely come so we have to address this,” he said.

At the same meeting, Cr Kent denied he had been party to meetings regarding the sale of the old council chambers in Triabunna, the marina and the commercial fishermen’s wharf.

Cr Jenifer Crawford said she had been told of the meetings by a ratepayer who overheard chatter about them in the pub.

“A concerned ratepayer spoke to me, saying they had overheard a conversation that you [Cr Kent] were having in the Blue Waters Hotel where you were saying that you had attended meetings with the intention of selling the old council chambers, the marina and the commercial fishermen’s wharf and you were OK with this,” she said.

“Have you attended meetings on this matter?”

Cr Kent said: “No, there has been no meetings, these are just as usual rumours that are pie in the sky, no meetings, no confirmation.”