Public Mooring for GBRMP areas. Thoughts ?

Website www.npsr.qld.gov.au

Dear Stakeholder,

The Queensland Government’s Significant Regional Infrastructure Projects Program (SRIPP) has provided the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) with $2.375M to invest in an expanded public mooring and reef protection program in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area (GBRWHA) over the next three years. In addition, funding for public moorings and reef protection markers in the Mackay/ Capricorn Management Area may also soon be available through an arrangement between the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) and the Department of the Environment and Energy (DOEE) to offset indirect impacts of the three liquefied natural gas plants on Curtis Island.

These funds will be used to build upon the existing network of 146 public moorings and 170 reef protection markers (collectively referred to as the Reef Protection Program). This new investment will include the installation of approximately 10-20 new public moorings and 30 reef protection markers at popular locations in the Capricorn Bunker Group of islands.

Public moorings promote and provide safe, convenient and sustainable access at high use destinations by reducing the need for boat users to drop their anchor. Additionally, reef protection markers (RPMs) are used to clearly designate no anchoring areas, mitigating the risk of anchor damage particularly on sensitive coral reef systems. Together, they achieve on-going protection and provide for sustainable use of the reef’s most popular dive and snorkelling destinations, visited by both tourists and recreational boat users.

The Capricorn Bunker Group has been identified as a focus area of this project in 2017-18. To this effect, it is proposed to:

a) Install 10 – 20 public moorings. Sites will be chosen in locations with:

 An observed history of visitation/ current vessel anchoring pressure, and
 A reasonable level of coral cover, or facilitating easy access to an area of reasonable coral cover (eg. for diving/ snorkelling).

b) Install additional Reef Protection Markers. Sites will be chosen as:

 Reef areas with current observed anchoring pressure and high conservation values (ie. medium – high levels of recorded live coral cover).

Where logistically feasible, the installation of RPMs will be complemented by the provision of one or more public moorings. Preliminary planning has identified locations indicated in the table below as potentially suitable for new Reef Protection Program infrastructure in the Capricorn Bunker Group.

Location
# Proposed Public Moorings
Vessel size class proposed
RPMs proposed
Lady Elliot Island
4 outside RPMs
<25m or <35m
Add to existing
Lady Musgrave Island
2 inside lagoon
2 outside lagoon
<20m
<25m or <35m
Add to existing
Fitzroy Reef
1 inside lagoon
2 outside lagoon
<20m
Add to existing
Heron Island
1 at Heron Bommie
1 at Big Bay
1 in channel south of the wreck.
<25m
<25m
<25m
No
Wistari Reef
1 at NE corner opposite harbour
1 on northern side near MPZ marker
<25m
<25m
Mast Head Island
2 NW end of reef
<25m
No
Broomfield Reef
1 opposite the Cay
<25m
No
Wilson Island
1 northern side opposite the beach
<25m
Yes – up to 10
North West Island
2 on northern side
1 in the Fishtail
<25m
No
QPWS is open to reviewing the number and size classes of moorings and RPMs at locations above based on stakeholder feedback, as well as receiving suggestions for alternative or additional locations not mentioned above. The locations selected largely follow recommendations made by popular cruising guides.

Your feedback is formally invited regarding this proposal. Please contact Nicole Hitchcock, Project Manager, on (07) 4047 9665 or via email Nicole.Hitchcock@npsr.qld.gov.au by 18 August 2017 to provide your comments, suggestions or advice. In addition, if you would like to attend a face-to-face workshop in order to discuss more detailed elements of this proposal, please register your interest via the contacts above.

Yours sincerely
Nicole Hitchcock
Senior Ranger
Technical Support, Great Barrier Reef Region
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service

I have attached the PDF if you need to read it or file it or print it.

cheers LP

ps..... I have provided feedback to Nicole.