Boatie plates to ramp up safety
THIS COULD PROVIDE GREATER OUTCOMES FOR A BETTER AND SAFER RECREATIONAL SPACE FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY
GOLD Coast boaties will have personalised number plates on their jet skis and watercraft under a private-public partnership with the state government.
Former Paradise Point councillor Grant Pforr, who represented the city at overseas boat shows, is floating the business proposal and in negotiations with government officials.
Mr Pforr has publicly released his plans at this weekend’s Sanctuary Cove Boat Show and sought expressions of interest, having got backing from several industry leaders.
In a letter to Transport Minister Mark Bailey, he has outlined the optional personalised marine vessel registration program in which owners could get their own name and numbering system.
He said the new registration system would “provide muchneeded funds for marine safety in Queensland”.
The scheme would be similar to the one used for vehicle registration, with some of the profits and transfer fees able to fund new safety initiatives on waterways.
Mr Pforr estimated at least 400 accidents occurred on Queensland waterways each year. Many others were unreported.
A personalised number plate system could provide for more education, greater presence of marine safety around boaties on the water and improved identification of boats and jet skis: “This could provide greater outcomes for a better and safer recreational space for the entire community,” Mr Pforr said.
He asked if the proposal could be “elevated” in the department’s legislative timelines.
Maritime Safety said it would “give the proposal consideration in due course”. It required an assessment of the development and maintenance costs against the number of vessels.
Coast yacht charter operators are strongly backing the move by giving letters of support and saying it would be a “win-win for everyone”.
More funding was needed for the “maintenance and improved channel markers so our waterways would be a safer recreational space for the entire community”.