Boat sinks, raising clean-up question
JUST who is responsible for cleaning up a houseboat which sank in the Broadwater on Saturday afternoon is in dispute.
The owner, who was at work at the time of the sinking, was yesterday doing his best to salvage what he could with the help of friends.
Police say the wreck is the responsibility of the Gold Coast Waterways Authority while that body says the owner faces fines if they do not remedy the situation.
About 3.20pm on Saturday a man on the beach noticed the vessel had taken on water in a busy canal at Land’s End, Biggera Waters.
Concerned there may be people aboard, the 33-year-old witness tried to enter the boat by smashing though a windows.
He received multiple cuts and as taken to the Gold Coast Private Hospital for treatment.
Water Police Senior Sergeant Jay Notaro said it appeared the boat’s age was a factor in its sinking.
“The Gold Coast Water Authorities called the owner to ask if there was anything hazardous on the boat. There was reported to have a generator with fuel but that was about it,” he said.
“It’s an old boat that has fallen apart. There was a man passing by who noticed the boat sinking and he was worried someone may have been on the boat.”
Sen-Sgt Notaro said it would be the responsibility of Gold Coast Waterways to clear the debris still floating in the water.
Gold Coast Waterways Authority CEO Hal Morris said the clean-up was the owner’s responsibility.
“We went out and checked and there was no pollution. There was just a small generator that used unleaded fuel, but it wasn’t causing pollution,” he said.
Mr Morris said the owner could face a hefty clean-up bill, possibly thousands of dollars, if they did not carry out the necessary works.
“It really depends on the damage and depends if they have polluted the water, where it is exactly,” he said.
“The owner needs to have insurance. If we have to clean up it’s using taxpayers money.”
The owner of the houseboat, who did not want to be identified, said he was stuck at work while his boat was sinking.
“I had a phone call from the police to say my houseboat has sunk,” he said.
“I was told I needed to clean it up as I could get a fine for pollution.”
The man said he had not been contacted by the Waterways Authority, nor advised on the procedure.
He said he is unsure how he is expected to remove the whole roof of the vessel as well as the bottom of the boat, which is being held by an anchor.
“This is everything I own,” he said.
Greg Bowman also owns a houseboat on the Broadwater and isn’t impressed by the slow action on the matter.
He said no official efforts have been made to prevent fuel and toxic waste being released from the vessel.
“The whole thing is wrong. There is pollution coming out of the boat. There should be someone there being held completely accountable for what’s happened,” Mr Bowman said.
“Whoever is in charge should be going out and checking these boats to make sure they are in usable condition.
“This guy could just walk away and not clean the boat up and it would just be left there.”
Abandoned and derelict boats have been an issue in Gold Coast waters for years.
The Gold Coast Waterways Authority annually contributes about $70,000 to clean-up efforts, including refloating sunken boats, with salvage the primary responsibility of the owners.