LITTLE SHIP CLUB July 2016 eNews

SOURCE: http://tradboatsqld.asn.au/deanbilla-bay-proposal-2016/

Deanbilla Bay Proposal 2016 Dear Sailing friends I write this to you as a concerned yachts- man / private citizen. (to be clear this is not composed as a member of the committee of WMYC) I do not believe it is in the best interests of local sailors for RQYS to manage Deanbilla Bay. My initial research follows as does a responce [sic] from the RQYS Commodore. At the end of the [blog] page is the text of a word document that I have signed and sent to the politicians listed. It is available to download as a word document. My notes of 10/4/2016 including documentation of RQYS proposal and RQYS Commodore’s public comments I was sent the link below which is to a public access Fairfax media site This page shows shows a map marked as not for public release. https://cdn.fairfaxregional.com.au/3A7XZUYkQMtPbFHsecsY- DWq/Deanbilla%20Bay%20NSI.pdf The map shows that RQYS has proposed that it manage moor- ings for the whole Southern section of Deanbilla Bay. Redland Local mayor Karen WIlliams’ website carries a 10 page glossy expose extolling the benefits to Stradbroke Island that will follow RQYS taking over management of a current mining shore lease and management of the anchorage. http://karenwilliams.com.au/images/uploads/RQYS_Deanbilla- Bay.pdf I note that the RQYS facebook page dated 4th April carries a note from Commodore Ian Threlfall “I can now report that these 10 environmentally friendly moor- ings are about to be installed. We will provide information shortly as to how our members can make use of these new moorings. It is important to understand that this Deanbilla Bay mooring area was already gazetted and approved by MSQ and as it stands, over time would have been taken up by permanent moorings – similar to the One-Mile anchorage. RQYS has the view that the boating public and Stradbroke Island would be better served by a number of short term only moorings being made available within the Deanbilla Bay area. On that basis, RQYS has applied for management rights over a portion of the already approved mooring area, that would be made available to members and non-members on a short term basis. This ap- plication is still under consideration by the authorities.” The “not for public release” map seems a little at odds with Commodore Threlfall’s facebook release. The fairfax map seems more concerning than simply a spot for an innocent 10 moorings. It clearly implies the intiention [sic] of RQYS to manage the whole Southern anchorage. While the facebook publication and the broacher [sic] both refer to only 10 moorings I dont feel that RQYS (or any single yacht club for that matter ) should have management over the only safe anchorage ,in the prevailing South Easter, in that region of the bay. https://www.facebook.com/RQYS.Manly/ I quote from Commodore Threlfall’s post:

It is no longer possible to anchor in the one mile anchorage due to the carpet of moorings. It would be an absolute disaster for the boating fraternity of Moreton Bay should the same situation evolved at Deanbilla. I am very keen that this information is widely disseminated amongst the boating fraternity and if people share my grave reservations that we each make those concerns known to MSQ the Moreton Bay marine park authority and local and state politi- cians. I will sort out a list of who I will “bother” in the next day or two. Additional information from RQYS Commodore received by email published with his permission Greg, I was forwarded a copy of your article concerning moorings at Deanbilla Bay. If I may, I would like to try to correct a possible misunderstand- ing about the current government approvals over Deanbilla Bay. If your aim is to protest the establishment by Government of a mooring zone in Deanbilla Bay, then that ‘horse bolted’ several years ago. MSQ several years ago gazetted the complete area as a large “Small Craft Mooring’ Zone complete with approximately 66 mooring positions. A look at the current Navionics charts will show the individual mooring positions all marked and they are approved. Obviously these moorings have not all been taken up immediately, but there has been a number installed in the past year. As it stands, it is inevitable that over time Deanbilla Bay will be filled with moorings just as One Mile has become. Just as Little Ship Club has a number of moorings within One Mile, and many other clubs have moorings in place for their members in other places, RQYS has applied for and been granted 10 moorings within this currently permitted zone for its members. A second and FURTHER proposal from RQYS is one to attempt to prevent the mooring zone being taken up by permanent private moorings only. We have offered to manage an area of moorings on a short term basis for short term visitors, both members and non-members, so that the boating public may still visit Dunwich and use the bay. It is that proposal that is still under consideration by authorities and there are many similar examples in Queensland of such an arrangement. RQYS does not wish to promulgate the expansion of moorings around the bay, although it is fair to say that many environmen- tal pressures are pushing government in that direction. The question for boat clubs is how best to adapt to that pressure. At RQYS we are attempting to lead the way toward a more open model that ensures that where moorings are mandated, that short term use by all is still available – just as boat and yacht clubs have been the best vehicle to ensure affordable and accessible marinas for all. Kind regards,

Ian Threlfall Commodore Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron

Reproduced by permission ot the TBQ webmaster

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July 2016 eNews SPECIAL

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