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Harbors/Navigation
Report on the administration of the Harbors and Navigation Act 1993
The following report is provided in accordance with Section 10 of the Harbors and Navigation Act 1993 (the Act).
Development of marine facilities
Restoration of the Grange Jetty was completed. Works included a new shelter and replacement of the jetty deck, handrails, structural timber elements, installation of new steel piles and new lighting system. Total project cost was $1.4 million funded by the State Government.
Registration and licences
In 2014-15, a six month registration option for recreational vessels up to a maximum length of seven metres was introduced reducing the registration fee for a qualifying recreational vessel to half of the 12 month registration fee. Since the introduction of the six month registration option, registered vessels have reduced from a little over 60 000 to approximately 56 000. This represents a small reduction in annual revenue.
Licence and registration data was released for use by business and community via the State Government’s Open Data websitehttps://data.sa.gov.au/. Licence data includes gender breakdown and totals dating back to 1975. Registration data includes hull types, new registrations and current registration totals commencing from 2007. Both data sets have been presented in calendar year and financial year format.
General safety messages
A new guide was distributed to all Personal Water Craft (PWC) registered owners in South Australia. The guide was developed to assist PWC operators comply with the law and to enhance their safety and the safety of others when out on the water.
Rules are in place to protect the safety of divers in the water by regulating the operation of other vessels in the vicinity. The Diver Below Brochure and the accompanying sticker were publicly released at the October 2014 Boat Show and have been distributed to boat retailers and tourist information centres near popular diving areas to promote the safety actions required when a Diver Below Flag is observed. The brochure and sticker were developed at the request of the professional diving industry following a number of near misses with recreational boat operators.
Kayak and canoe retailers are advising of significant sales of small electric motors which can be fitted to kayaks and canoes to aid paddling efforts. The Act requires that any vessel fitted with a motor must be registered; anyone operating a vessel with a motor must be licensed, and depending on the size of the vessel and area of operation there is a varying range of safety equipment requirements. In response to the emerging trend and to inform the best options for safety, an exemption process has been developed and implemented to aid in a trial of these vessels fitted with a small electric motor. The exemption applies to an electric motor up to 34lbs thrust.
To date, 63 kayak or canoe operators have been granted exemption from the registration, boat licence and safety equipment requirements that apply to a vessel fitted with an engine. A condition of granting the exemption is that all persons, when operating the kayak or canoe, must wear a personal flotation device (PFD) – commonly referred to as a life jacket.
South Australia was the lead agency via the Australian and New Zealand Safe Boating Education Group (ANZSBEG) in the development of a new waterproof write on reminder sticker to record expiry dates of vessel registration, fire extinguishers, inflatable personal flotation devices/lifejackets, distress flares and Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRB)/Personal Locator Beacons (PLB). The first print run has resulted in 100 000 copies being distributed throughout Australia and New Zealand. This initiative was in response to demand from the boating public who sought assistance in maintaining currency and effectiveness of safety equipment.
Safe operation of vessels
To provide for the safe use of the State’s waters by persons participating in aquatic events (and for the safety of persons not participating in the event), 181 Aquatic Activity Licences were issued during the reporting year. This is an increase of 38 compared to last year.
Approximately 2300 vessels were checked for compliance with registration, boat licence and safety equipment requirements either at the boat ramp or on the water. These vessel checks highlighted a high percentage of non compliance and the importance of education and promotion of the safe use of South Australian waters.