Floating eyesores on the way out

War on wrecks ramps up

RAMSHACKLE vessels including yachts, tinnies and fishing boats continue to be pulled from Gold Coast waters at a staggering rate as part of the ongoing War on Wrecks program.

Gold Coast Waterways Authority ( GCWA) has removed 106 abandoned vessels and pieces of property since the program was launched in 2018.

In December last year, the Bulletin reported 64 vessels on the Coast had been claimed by GCWA, meaning 42 more vessels have been removed since then.

GCWA CEO Hal Morris said vessels removed included fishing boats, small yachts, pontoons, tenders, runabouts and tinnies.

“We’ve ramped up our efforts to remove these vessels, treating them as a priority and working to clear them up as soon as we become aware of them,” he said.

“This happens either as a result of our monitoring patrols which we conduct with our partner agency, Maritime Safety Queensland or through reports from the community.”

Some vessels are much trickier to retrieve than others, like a small vessel discovered wedged into environmentally sensitive mangroves at Loders Creeks recently.

GCWA had to come up with a “comprehensive environmental management plan” to enable that wreck to be removed and disposed of properly.

Mr Morris said GCWA had also been contributing to development of policy changes to “deal with complex issues such as the adequacy of insurance coverage and disposal options for unseaworthy vessels through the War on Wrecks Taskforce, on which we’re represented”.

“The Taskforce has recently held public hearings to gather community and industry views on how these issues could be dealt with more effectively,” he said.

GCWA has managed to recover more than $200,000 in costs since the War on Wrecks began operating across Queensland.

“We’re committed to ensuring safe access to our waterways network and we encourage people who spot an abandoned vessel to continue reporting them to us either by phoning our office or sending an email to mail@gcwa.qld.gov.au so that we can remove these hazards from our waterways,” Mr Morris said.

The state government launched the program after a series of stories about eyesores in the Broadwater.

GCWA works with agencies including MSQ and the Department of Environment.

Derelict vessels can also be reported by phoning GCWA on 5539 7350.