Annual Report 2008-2009 - Department of Transport

Navigational aids
The Department is responsible for developing and maintaining an extensive
network of navigation aids within Western Australian waters to provide safe
passage for recreational and commercial vessels.
Managing more than 1000 navigation aids in Western Australia involves
working closely with stakeholders to identify enhancement projects that will
improve navigation and keep vessel owners and their passengers safe.
Installing navigational aids greatly assists safe passage of all types of
watercraft. The program has committed to the installation of specific
navigational aids such as buoys, beacons and markers which meet
international standards. Investment in state-of-the-art light-emitting,
diode-synchronised, rhythmic lighting technology combined with solar
recharging capabilities and the use of corrosive resistant materials enhances
the reliability and longevity of the navigational aids.
Major navigational aid projects have been completed in both regional and
metropolitan waters over the past 12 months. In the Swan and Canning
rivers, navigation markers have been upgraded to assist skippers, especially
at night. This has involved:
• installation of synchronised lighting on existing lateral marks between
Point Heathcote and the Mount Henry Bridge and also between the
Causeway and Windan Bridge;
• new lateral marks with synchronised lighting at Canning Bridge and the
Causeway; and
• improvements to markers at Rocky Bay.
Similarly, in regional areas improvements have seen:
• installation of synchronised lighting on existing lateral markers at
Denham, Wilson Inlet and Beadon Creek; and
• installation of a 2.5 metre red and white Fairway Buoy at the entrance to
Lily Lagoon on the Ord River.
These improvements cost in excess of $108,000 and were implemented as
part of the Department’s 2008–09 Navigation Aid Capital Works Plan. This
program is an integral part of the overall commitment to marine safety in
Western Australian waters.
*This activity also relates to Goal 3 and 4.
www.transport.wa.gov.au/imarine
Marine safety operations
Marine safety compliance activities have been governed since 2003 by a
Memorandum of Understanding between the Minister for Transport and the
Minister for Fisheries which resulted in the Department of Fisheries (DoF)
being responsible for this work from Preston Beach to Lancelin with the
exception of the Swan and Canning rivers.
However, in April this year the above arrangements were altered to enable
the Department for Planning and Infrastructure to undertake dedicated inshore
marine safety compliance work between Preston Beach and Lancelin.
These new arrangements have been implemented to better cater for an
increased demand for dedicated marine compliance operations. Regular
compliance patrols are now undertaken in the Peel, Rockingham and
Hillarys regions.
The DoF will continue to undertake compliance checks in the course of
fisheries work.
The arrangements have resulted in substantially improved coordination,
more efficient use of resources and have delivered improved safety outcomes.
The Department has also increased on-water compliance capacity through:
• basing an additional vessel in Busselton to cater for the high demand for
patrols in Geographe Bay, the Blackwood and Collie rivers, Koombana
Bay and the Leschenault Estuary; and
• the purchase of a new 8.5 metre high performance rigid inflatable vessel
for the Perth Metropolitan area to provide for improved response times
in incidents and emergencies.
*This activity also relates to Goal 3 and 5.
www.transport.wa.gov.au/imarine
Goal 1
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