LITTLE SHIP CLUB July 2016 eNews

royal queensland yacht squadron

“IN THE WIND” (ITW) is a weekly email newsletter of the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron (RQYS). Two issues, published on 7th April and 19th May 2016, have been circulated, in which the Squadron’s plans for Deanbilla Bay were broadcast. In the 7th April edition, RQYS Commodore Ian Threlfall announced that a number of initiatives that had been “on the agenda for some months or years” were now “reaching fruition”. In the first – RQYS Member Moorings – it was noted that the State Government (through the office of MSQ) had previously gazetted a large proportion of Deanbilla Bay as a small craft mooring area with an associated 66 mooring positions. The Commodore reported that “over a year ago, the RQYS General Committee decided to apply for permission to deploy 10 moorings within this already approved zone for short term RQYS member use.” Availability of these moorings for member bookings was announced in the 19th May ITW issue, and attention drawn to the policy document on the RQYS website (extract shown below). The second initiative – Deanbilla Bay Mooring Management – advised that “RQYS has formed the view that the boating public and Stradbroke Island in general may be better served” by a larger number of short term visitor moorings being made available within the Deanbilla Bay designated area and that the Squadron had therefore “recently” applied for management rights “over a portion” of the already approved mooring area. Commodore Threlfall contrasted the RQYS plans to “make these moorings available to members and, importantly, the general public” with the restrictions in the One Mile caused by privately-owned permanent moorings and noted that the RQYS Deanbilla application was “still under consideration”. Moving to the third initiative in the 7th April issue – the RQYS “Deanbilla Sailing Academy” – the Commodore published the fact the Squadron had been in discussions with Sibelco and State and Local Governments with the aim of “securing this property” (the Sibelco buildings at Deanbilla Bay) to establish a new Sailing Academy campus and RQYS member destination on North Stradbroke Island. Discussions were progressing ‘positively’ and a ‘successful resolution anticipated’. In conclusion, the Commodore observed that these three initiatives were aimed squarely at developing the sport of sailing “and are in the interests of RQYS sailing and cruising members now and into the future.” These ITW announcements were made several weeks after the RQYS Sailing Academy proposal was first published on the Redlands Mayor’s own website [editorial note: refer article and links on previous page] and made no mention of the RQYS Academy proposals for operating sailing and racing courses both in Deanbilla Bay and across the paths of the Cleveland barge and ferry services in the open bay between Coochiemudlo and Goat Islands (as the map on page 10 of the proposal document clearly depicted), nor of the RQYS proposal to conduct wind- surfing classes and ‘off the beach’ racing in Horseshoe Bay as well.

In the 19th May issue of ITW, the Commodore again referenced the One Mile as “a classic example of where permanent moorings largely exclude access to a popular destination” and reiterated that RQYS had established its 10 moorings in Deanbilla Bay “now to ensure that we do not lose the rights to them.” It was further announced that RQYS “sees ‘Destinations’ as a core pillar for the development of our member facilities” and that the Squadron was of the view that ‘a number’ of “our favourite destinations” WILL (the Commodore’s capitals) become mooring only areas in the future due to ‘environmental considerations’ and would “wherever possible apply for our share of those moorings to ensure our members maintain access.” RQYS member-only access to the 10 Deanbilla Bay moorings was again emphasised, underscored by the committee’s view that such facilities, along with the RQYS property at Canaipa, “provide an incentive for new and existing members” to enjoy Moreton Bay. Six weeks later, in the RQYS quarterly magazine “MAINSHEET” Winter 2016 issue, Commodre Threlfall declared that RQYS had been successful both in having Sibelco agree to transfer the lease of its Deanbilla Bay shorefront property to the Squadron and in obtaining “formal Ministerial consent” for this, with the process already in the hands of the State Titles Office. In reporting one “commitment” by the State Government to approve the necessary Change of Use provisions for the land, the Commodore also reported another “commitment from the State to re-negotiate the ongoing lease terms with a view to a long term sporting lease and/or freehold acquisition of the property.” It would be, he said, “an exciting new phase as we develop and release ‘RQYS Deanbilla’ to our members.” The Squadron’s Coaching and Sailing staff were reportedly ‘well advanced in planning’ for the range of programs at ‘RQYS Deanbilla’ and that weekend and week-long camps would hopefully be offered ‘very soon’. Members of the RQYS Power and Sail Cruising Groups had also, it seemed, “been quick to see the potential of Deanbilla as a destination” with fund-raising events already being planned to ‘enhance’ the Deanbilla property with ‘BBQ and shade facilities’ so that “in conjunction with our moorings within the bay, a first-class destination and member meeting place will be available to all members and guests.” The Commodore concluded his comments by stating “it’s great to belong”. A few pages later in the magazine, a large chartlet of Deanbilla Bay was reproduced, along with a photograph of a bright pink, black-stencilled buoy with the caption “RQYS Exclusive Mooring at Deanbilla Bay”.

http://www.rqys.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/RQYS-Bill-Kirby-Jetty-Deanbilla-Bay-Policy.pdf

DEANBILLA BAY MOORING SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

• Rafting is permitted providing the total raft combination does not exceed 40 tonnes in total weight or the maximum swing radius of that mooring. • In the case of any unauthorized use or interference … 1. Ask the offending vessel to vacate the mooring in a polite and respectful manner. 2. If the offending vessel does not comply, please take a photo of the offending vessel ensuring that its registration details are visible and note the date/time. 3. Please report the unauthorized use to RQYS Reception and forward the photo and details.

Maximum Permitted Swing Radius 30m – BS1020, BS1021, BS1022, BS1031, BS1032, BS1040 20m – BS1041, BS1048, BS1053, BS1054

• All vessels must be RQYS registered and must display an RQYS burgee at all times while on the mooring. • Members to provide full vessel details including full comprehensive insurance details, registration number, vessel name, make, power or sail, description, LOA, Beam, Draft, total weight and a contact phone number. • Vessels must not exceed the maximum swing mooring weight of 40 tonnes. • Maximum LOA is limited to the maximum Swing radius of the mooring.

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July 2016 eNews SPECIAL

Supplement: Facing the future of Straddie RQYSBillKirby Jetty&DeanbillaBayMooringsPolicy

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