Annual Report 2008-2009 - Department of Transport

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Marine safety integrated data collection strategy
The Department has recently developed and implemented a project to
establish a defined and practical Marine Safety Integrated Data Report
that is produced on a quarterly basis. This data is provided and supported
by multiple agencies with responsibilities for marine compliance and sea
search and rescue within the State.
This development will ensure marine statistical information is collected
and used in a consistent and uniform way. The integrated data collection
strategy will provide the framework for the dissemination of current marine
safety information to assist with:
• investigating the attributing factors to the incidence and burden of
marine-related injury in Western Australia;
• identification of higher risk marine injury and incident groups and to
suggest countermeasures to reduce the incidence and burden of these
injuries and incidents in Western Australia;
• targeting communication and educational programs to meet the needs
of the boating community that advance boating safety;
• better use of resources for risk identification; and
• raising the profile of the topic of marine safety generally.
*This activity also relates to Goal 5.
www.transport.wa.gov.au/imarine
Seagrass wrack within Geographe Bay
The Department is managing, on behalf of the State Government, the Shire
of Busselton and the developers of Port Geographe, a major study into
seagrass wrack within Geographe Bay.
The study by the University of Western Australia, Edith Cowan University
and DHI Water and Environment Pty Ltd will make recommendations for
improved management of seagrass wrack along the beaches of Geographe
Bay, and specifically at Port Geographe, where extensive problems with
seagrass wrack and sand deposits have been experienced since it was built
in 1997.
The study began in January 2008 and the first year has focused on the
factors critical to the movement of seagrass on and off the beaches. Beach
accumulations have been studied for their physical and chemical properties
including the release of gases such as hydrogen sulphide. The next stage is
to focus on the sources and movement of seagrass within the Bay and its
accumulation at Port Geographe.
The study will develop a computer model to predict seagrass movement
within the ocean and onto and off the beach. It will be used to model options,
including proposed changes to the Port Geographe entrance groynes to
ascertain whether modifications can reduce the collection of wrack on the
beach west of Port Geographe, and allow it to naturally bypass the marina
entrance and groyne field.
The total anticipated expenditure is $750,000 from a tripartite funding
agreement between the Department, the Shire of Busselton and the
developers. The study is due for completion in February 2010.
*This activity also relates to Goal 3 and 4.
www.transport.wa.gov.au/imarine