This is ‘disgusting and dangerous’
PARADISE Point locals are furious a sunken houseboat appears to be leaking sewage into the Broadwater, sparking demands for the wreck to be removed.
The abandoned vessel, which sank near Sovereign and Ephraim islands early this week, has begun to slowly break up, with items including paper towels, air pumps and other debris washing up on shore.
Despite an ongoing “war on wrecks’’ by the State Government, abandoned boats are still being found in Gold Coast waterways. More than 100 vessels had been removed from the Coast under the $20 million program.
A spokesman for the Gold Coast Waterways Authority said there was no oil leakage detected from the vessel and a warning buoy had been put in place.
Responsibility for removal came under Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ).
LNP Member for Broadwater David Crisafulli said the authorities were not keeping up.
“It is a disgrace. It just doesn’t sit high enough on the priority list of the state,” Mr Crisafulli said.
“This isn’t just about aesthetics, it is about the environmental health of our waterways.”
Mr Crisafulli said it was a “screaming call for action” and the process to remove abandoned vessels was “simply taking too long”.
“If this was on the land where sewerage was being spilt where people could see it, we would be up in arms,” he said. “Just because it is in the water, we seem to let the problem sit and wait.
“If it is an issue of resources, give us more resources. If it is an issue of process, change the legislation because at the moment it is just not working.”
A local resident, who would not be named, said the submerged boat was “incredibly dangerous”.
“The markings aren't clear and the boat can’t be seen. Honestly, it is just disgusting,” the resident said.
According to MSQ the owner had been issued a direction to remove the wreck.
“He is required to provide a removal plan by Wednesday and have the work carried out by Friday at his cost rather than at taxpayer expense,” general manager Angus Mitchell said.
“If the owner fails to comply, MSQ can take its own action and has powers to recover the removal cost through the court. This could be up to $18,000.”
Acting Transport and Main Roads Minister Steven Miles said the government was holding negligent owners to account and had removed over 200 boats.
“David Crisafulli and the LNP had plenty of time to take action on abandoned vessels while they were in government but did nothing in their three years,” he said.