With five rivers, creeks, 260km of navigable waterways, more than 750 hectares of lakes and dams as well as land assets, the Gold Coast Waterways Authority (GCWA) has a vital role to play in planning, managing and protecting the Gold Coast’s iconic waterways.

Boating registrations in the region are growing at more than twice the State-wide growth rate and the purchase of jet-skis continues to boom. Against this growth, the responsibility for ensuring the Gold Coast’s waterways remain something that residents can use, understand, protect, respect, enhance and enjoy is crucial.

Now five years since its establishment, GCWA has focused in the past year on tackling even more of the planning and management challenges associated with protecting this precious asset for present and future generations of locals and visitors.

One of the hallmarks of GCWA is to set priorities locally and we have talked with a wide cross-section of people from our community– boaties, divers, water-skiers, jet skiers, residents and visitors – to shape our priorities.

More than 1000 residents offered their views at “Meet the Board” sessions that have been held over the past 12 months at Southport, Hope Island, Currumbin, Hollywell, Burleigh Heads and Main Beach.

Issues raised by community have covered a range of topics including:

• concerns about speed and behaviour
• access to channels throughout the Gold Coast
• increased demand for buoy mooring areas
• upgrades to boating facilities
• management of trust land including Doug Jennings Park and Wave Break Island.

GCWA has worked hard to address community concerns and expectations.

In the past year, we have:

• delivered more than $5.5 million in dredging projects to ensure safe navigation of channels
• invested more than $3.3 million in projects to improve access to the waterways
• enhanced our land-based assets responding to strong community demand in Doug Jennings Park by upgrading facilities for the community while ensuring disciplined management of the park by outlawing illegal camping
• staged “Gold Coast 2017 and Beyond”, an inaugural symposium bringing community and international attention to the importance of ensuring the resilience of our waterways
• continued to consult the community on our key waterways management strategies for buoy moorings and speed limits.

Our focus is on responding to two critical priorities shaping the future of our waterways – congestion and resilience.

The Gold Coast of the future is facing severe congestion, transport and planning issues as a result of the forecast doubling of the population to 1 million people by 2050 as well as staggering growth in watercraft ownership and registrations.

At the same time, Gold Coast waterways are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change such as storm surge and sea level rise, given their vast scale and proximity of development to the water.

We need to prepare now for these future impacts.

We are committed to protecting the fundamental value waterways provide to Gold Coast residents, visitors and Queensland; addressing the shared challenges and designing solutions to ensure they remain as iconic places of infinite beauty and opportunity.

The post Delivering On Gold Coast Waterways appeared first on Boat Gold Coast.

Our new location facilitates up to 250 tonnes of travel lift. We are now able to house vessels up to 75 feet inside our workshop.

Seapower Marine has been the exclusive Authorised Marine Dealer for CAT on the Gold Coast since 2010. We deliver specialised marine engineering with quality and assurance for all CAT Marine engines. We carry out on- and off-site repairs as usual. We have a large range of spare parts including oils and lubricants. We offer a full all-year round maintenance and service program tailored to your requirements.

Spearheaded by Scott Evered, Seapower Marine boast specialist knowledge for all popular inboard marine engines. Scott’s experience within the marine engineering industry is second to none. Scott is the only engineer in Queensland to have been factory-trained at the MAN Engines and Components factory in Germany. He did his apprenticeship in the UK at 16 years of age. He holds a trade certificate in Marine and Industrial Engineering. After many years of owning and operating a marine company in the UK, Scott headed for Australian waters and purchased Seapower Marine in 2010. As the technical head, Scott has taken the company to new lengths, acquiring fully trained marine engineers to work along side.

Alongside Scott, Gavon Viall stands as the Workshop Manager and has been with Seapower Marine since 1987.  His knowledge of the local industry is both extensive and unquestionable.

Seapower Marine arrange and manage all of your boating projects. We can also arrange for your vessel to be safely driven to the marina and brought back to its original location when all works are complete.

Factory D26, 76-84 Waterway Drive, Coomera, QLD 4209

Tel. 07 5577 3008 Email: accounts@seapowermarine.com.au

The post New Location, New Opportunities for Seapower Marine appeared first on Boat Gold Coast.

As the owner of a boat, it is your responsibility to maintain it in a seaworthy condition, equip it with the correct safety equipment, and operate it safely. But what if your boat is still suffering from an unfortunate incident last summer? Or what if you have been too busy to rescue it from being stranded on a sand bar or lost in the mangroves? Or the funds are running a little too low to do those repairs? Maybe it is starting to cost more than it is worth?

If your boat is looking a little worse for wear, then it is your responsibility to bring your vessel up to seaworthy condition, or to remove it from the water. This may be costly, or take time, but it is not only for your own safety, but the safety of all other waterways users.

Under Queensland maritime safety laws, a shipping inspector can require that your boat is surveyed and the necessary repairs undertaken. Or, if it has gone too far, a declaration of unseaworthiness may be issued, and you will no longer be able to use your boat. You can also be directed to remove your boat from the water so that it does not pose a hazard to navigation, or a risk of damage to the environment or any other water users. Be careful once you have received any notices or directions, because if you do not comply you can be penalised by fines and court enforcement orders.

Now, it is not all doom and gloom. Take a look at your boat. Do you have the correct safety equipment? Is your boat seaworthy and well maintained? Does it present a safety risk? It might only take a couple of repairs for you to be ready to take that fishing trip.

Maybe your boat is past the point where a few repairs will solve the problem. It has been moored down the creek, collecting water, and rusting up for a little too long. It is still your responsibility. If you cannot be identified as the owner of the vessel, you might just find that one day it will be gone.

If a derelict vessel represents a hazard to navigation or may cause damage to the environment, then the abandoned property can be removed immediately and a seizure notice advertised only afterwards. This applies to abandoned ships, and also to any part of a ship or other property. Unfortunately, if it is neglected, sometimes a small boat can cause a very big problem – possibly resulting in fines, mandatory repairs, and massive unexpected costs for the owner.

It is not just boats that are subject to this type of regulation. Any watercraft can be deemed to be abandoned property if it is reasonably believed to be abandoned, lost or stranded in Gold Coast waters – whether it represents a hazard or not. According to the definition of watercraft in the Transport Infrastructure Act 1994, this includes from boats and jet skis, down to kayaks and surfboards. If property is suspected to be abandoned, the Gold Coast Waterways Authority will take reasonable steps to locate the owner. If your property is suspected to be abandoned and has been removed, you can claim it back. But there are expenses associated; it might just be the cost of publishing a notice, or the costs spent retrieving and storing your property. If abandoned property is not claimed, or it is of insufficient value to warrant the publishing of a notice, then it may be sold or destroyed – with the proceeds of any sale being used to recoup some of the costs expended in maintaining Gold Coast waterways.

The purpose of these powers is not to try and take your kayaks or beloved tinnies. It is so that, in a storm, a wayward vessel does not come crashing into yours, only to find that the owner cannot be identified and you are stuck with the repairs; or that you are not having to weave in and out of partially submerged derelict dinghies hoping to save your new gel coat from a nasty scratch. These laws exist for waterways users and their property. So how can you do your bit?

Remember that maintenance, responsibility and care are key: Maintain your boat and keep it seaworthy. Be a responsible owner. Make sure your watercraft identifies you as the owner with your contact details – whether through current registration and symbols, or owner’s label if not registered. And take care of your property. Stow your paddleboard or kayaks safely at the end of the day.

By Anthony Stanton and Kendall Messer

Pacific Maritime Lawyers

The post Look After It or Lose It appeared first on Boat Gold Coast.

With shipping costs at rock bottom, importing US boats remains an attractive option even with a stronger US dollar. In this digital age, it has never seemed easier to buy a boat abroad. Peer-to-peer, auction and broker websites are teeming with new and second-hand boats for sale at seemingly unbeatable prices. Most Australian shipping experts now advertise specialist boat import services to try and ride the wave of what is known as “grey”, or parallel, imports. But is there really any such thing as a cheap boat? Let’s find out.

Realistic budgeting

You will need to factor in a number of additional expenses before deciding if that cheap boat really is a bargain. Shipping costs, transit insurance, 5% import duty, port dues, quarantine inspection fees, and possibly the cost of a custom-made shipping cradle all have to be included, as well as 10% GST on the price of the boat and on all the costs above – that’s right! Although there is no import duty for boats both made in and shipped from the USA or New Zealand, you still have to pay GST on the total cost, irrespective of the boat’s provenance. Trailers, refrigeration and air conditioning systems all require separate import permits, further adding to the expense. There is also the risk and expense of having the boat detained and sanitised by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) after a failed quarantine inspection. (Renewing the anti-fouling and getting the boat cleaned inside-out and shrink-wrapped before shipping is a good investment!)

All in, your pride and joy may end up costing you a whole lot more than you thought – up to three times the purchase price for smaller boats, according to industry experts. Unfortunately, these hidden costs are not the only catch.

The dark reality of grey imports

Grey imports are not covered by factory warranties because they bypass manufacturer’s Australian distribution channels. Accredited dealers may not service these boats or even supply spare parts. These issues may affect not only engines, but also other critical and expensive equipment, such as electronic navigation systems. This negatively impacts how these boats hold their value over time and makes them potentially difficult to resell.

As the importer of the boat, you will also be personally responsible for its compliance with Australian regulations on safety, emission standards, and shipbuilding specifications – only to list a few – for the lifetime of the boat. Unless you are an expert in those fields, it is best to avoid this Pandora’s box of potential liability. In extreme cases, you may have to indemnify persons injured in an accident involving the boat.

Buyer beware

In many respects, buying a boat is very much like buying a car. You want to make sure it has not previously been stolen, mortgaged or scrapped, and that it is reasonably road- (or sea-) worthy. Unfortunately, there is no equivalent of the Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) certificate for boats purchased abroad. The online boat market is notoriously full of scams, and most P2P and auction sites offer only scarce buyer protection.

The risk of unknowingly buying a storm damaged boat should not be underestimated, as is the risk of buying a repossessed boat that has been poorly maintained by a cash-strapped owner.

Cheap does not mean value, and buying “sights unseen” is not advisable. You should allow for travel expenses in your budget, as well as the cost of appointing an independent surveyor at the boat’s original location.

Insurance and safety

Insurers limit the maximum insured value of a grey import compared to a locally purchased boat, so you may not be able to insure it for its full replacement value.

Boats should also comply with Australian standards for fuel, electrical and LPG installations. Some equipment, such as foreign VHF radios that use different frequency bands, is illegal to use in Australia. The cost of replacing these systems can be significant, and a new survey may be required after the refit is completed. Failing this, you may be denied insurance, or worse, put yourself and your family at risk.

Get expert advice

Before committing, make sure you hire a professional agent to navigate you safely through the importing minefield. You may also ask your local boating associations for advice.

The Boating Industry Association has a free leaflet available for download at https://www.bia.org.au/documents/item/37.

A note on trailers

Australian customs regulations require separate import permits for the boat and its trailer. All trailers must meet Australian Design Rules (ADR) requirements to be allowed on our roads. Most US-approved trailers do not comply with the ADR, and bringing them to compliance can be a costly exercise. Plan to buy one here rather than to import it with the boat.

By Celine Flamain

*Celine is a qualified marine surveyor for small leisure and commercial craft and a commercially endorsed Yachtmaster Offshore and RYA Cruising Instructor. She also holds a post-graduate diploma in Marine Insurance and has logged many miles as a professional and recreational skipper.

The post Blacks & Whites of Grey Imports appeared first on Boat Gold Coast.

Since the first days of copper sheeting and Muntz Metal, antifouling products have come a long way. It is tempting to think about antifouling as paint; but it is more than that. It is actually a very clever piece of chemistry.

Traditionally, every year, you must spend the time and money to lift your vessel, blast away any fouling, then sand back and reapply an antifouling coating. This happens whether you take your boat out every weekend or only three times a year.

With recent years seeing many innovative solutions arriving on the market, the old tried-and-true annual application of antifoul now has some competition. In general, all the paint providers for the marine industry provide a solution, and most of them have a great range to choose from. With some providers claiming systems have lasted up to 11 years before the need for reapplication. The more important questions are: which antifoul product suits your vessel, and most importantly, how you use it.

The Runabout

The good old-fashioned weekend warrior – small, mobile and fun, and taken out of the water after use. If this is your boat type, resist the urge to put antifouling on at all. Antifouling is a product designed to keep marine organisms from settling on the underwater hull of boats. These products perform best when left permanently in the water. If your boat is not stored in the water, then there is no need to apply it to your hull. In fact, most systems are designed to be fully submerged.

The Racer

These guys are passionate about speed. You will see them flying down the Broadwater on a Thursday afternoon one hand on the handrail, the other holding a glass of champagne. In the past, super hard ablative antifouls have been used and sanded back smooth for speed. However, with the innovation of products, many yacht owners are semi-ablative coatings, such as PPG’s ABC3®, EcoFleet 290®, or even International’s MicronExtra®. Rather than sanding, the simple wash-down with a soft cloth prevents excess wear of the coating, as over cleaning can lead to premature failure.

The Pleasure Craft and Superyachts

Here is where we start to see the overnight trips and ‘at-sea’ entertainment. Still, most of these boats are permanently in the water and not always on the move. As much as we would all like to be on the water every weekend, the truth is, we only get out there once or twice a month. This means the antifouling has to work while the boat sits still. Ablative or self-polishing types with high copper content work best here. Check out PPG’s Ecofleet 290® or Jotun SeaGuardian®. Either way, it also pays to keep an eye on your boat and clean off any slime that may occur. The right product selection will keep fouling at bay and provide you with better time at sea!

The Commercial Boat

Used for whale watching or passenger trips, these boats commute like the City Cat in Brisbane. These vessels quite often stay in the water for two years or more, so a semi-ablative antifoul is often used. The frequent movement in conjunction with a reasonable speed is the space for the semi-ablative antifouling. Silicone-based systems, like International’s Intersleek 100SR® or PPG’s Sigmaglide®, not only keep the fuel usage and costs down, they also last. Some silicone systems have been known to last more than 10 years!

Ultimately, whatever approach you consider taking, it is always an advantage to get good consultation on your boat, its circumstances, and your individual needs. With some expert advice, you will be sure to get the solution that is best for you and your boat.

Just remember, the way to get the best out of your antifouling is: Good preparation, the correct application, and the right quantity. Of course, if you use the right maintenance practices, the coating will last longer too.

Our team at Riverside Marine Services are always at the ready to serve you in all your boating needs. Drop by and say ‘Hi’ to us at the Gold Coast City Marina, Coomera. For more information, call Shaun Phelps on 0488 012 337, or email us at RMS@riversidemarine.com.au.

The post Which Antifoul Suits Your Vessel? appeared first on Boat Gold Coast.

Is your boat a shiny pair of Italian loafers, or is it more of a Dunlop Volley? Like your favourite pair of shoes, your boat makes a statement. What does it say about you?

We put it to the boating enthusiasts of the Gold Coast to find out their honest opinions. Funny or witty, lighthearted or sarcastic, frank or judgmental – whatever your take is on the thoughts of three local boaties, Tom Carlisle, Jack Lester and Brent Churchill, may leave you having second thoughts about what next boat to buy.

Sailing Boat

Tom Carlisle has had years of experience on the Gold Coast waterways. Tom believes that sailing boats are generational; and owners are likely to encourage the next generation to hit the water in the same such way. “Owners vary from humble working class families to the wealthiest individuals on the planet, all sharing a common understanding and passion,” he says.

Jack Lester finds that sailors enjoy living aboard, provided they can brave some mad weather from time to time. “Generally, sailors are a good breed of folks with some incredibly diverse and fascinating backgrounds,” he says.

Pontoon Boat

Tom believes that pontoon boat owners can be segmented into two groups. “About half are sold to first time boat owners – middle aged, with an established family, a disposable income and a new house, which lends itself to a pontoon boat,” he states. “The other half are experienced boaties that have owned and sold lots of boats – typically having just sold their big boat because they were not getting enough use out of it.”

Boat savvy Brent Churchill finds that those owning a pontoon boat are normally after a more social experience, rather than being concerned with their image. “They are after all the extras without paying top dollar. Pontoon boat owners care for comfort over style,” says Churchill.

Tom agrees, “While they love the idea of the great outdoors, they also enjoy going home to sleep in the comfort of an air-conditioned bedroom and a pillow top Sealy King.”

Yacht

Jack sees yacht owners as the best people to seek for help or advice on the waterways. “A generally magnificent group of humans, divided by the monohull/multihull conundrum,” he says with an unashamed bias. “Salt of the earth folks.”

Tom finds yacht owners to fall into two types. “Yacht owners are either middle aged, self-employed and leveraged to the high hills, or pushing retirement and enjoying the fruits of their labour.”

Brent beats around the bush. “Yachts are rich people’s boats. They don’t care what boating enthusiasts think and are sick of sailing.”

Wake Boat

Jack finds wakeboard boaties are thrill seekers, enjoying what the lifestyle offers. “They generally cause little trouble of which I am aware.”

Tom believes wake boat owners, like jet ski owners, have earned themselves a special place on the social list for boaties. “Wake boats throw out huge wake, go figure?” He finds that no boaties delve quite as deeply into the lifestyle like wake boat owners do. “You rarely see a family wagon stickered up, or kids wearing flat caps at the skate park,” he notes. “Though for wakeboard boaties, the only question is – how big of a sticker can you fit, and does that hat come in black?”

Fishing Boat

Jack believes fishermen are masters of the sea and best avoided and left to their task. “They will assist where they can. But at the end of the day, they need to make money,” he states. “Recreational fisherman are living the dream and generally do not pose any problems.”

Brent finds it difficult to understand owners of fishing boats. “They have wasted their money on a boat for a sport with little excitement involved,” he finds. “I don’t understand them or the logic.”

Jet Ski

Jack finds that jet skis are a more accessible point-of-entry to our waterways, and he says the drivers are usually those who would not bother with boats. “Tattoos are not essential, but common, and some have a slim grasp of marine etiquette. I must confess though that I have been saved from two incidents on the water by jet ski riders, so I can’t be too harsh!”

Tom finds that jet skiers are to the boating community as “P-platers” are to those on the roads. “Sure there are some good ones, but even they understand they are greatly out-numbered.”

Dinghy

Jack finds that there are generally two types of dinghy driver: the yacht tender owner and the ‘tinny rat’. “The former regularly scoops garbage from our waterways, and are responsible and often heroic. Tinny rats are pesky individuals indeed. But then, we were all young once!”

Boat savvy Brent finds dinghy drivers as “very poor boating enthusiasts”. “A dinghy owner is typically an under-aged hoon that has been given a means to cause havoc on the waterways,” he says frankly. “They should be banned.”

Here’s to hoping dinghy drivers of Broadbeach redeem themselves for the sake of Brent!

By Sophia Sorensen

The post Stereotyping Your Boat appeared first on Boat Gold Coast.

The Gold Coast is renowned for its year-round temperate climate and enviable natural environment, whose features dominate the landscape and define the city’s unique lifestyle – from its coastline of golden sands giving rise to the city’s name, to the ample bays and endless weaving waterways that flow like veins throughout the city, defining its symbiotic relationship with the water that surrounds it.

But no one can argue that these elements alone provide near enough value to resolutely claim ownership of such an illustrious title. As residents, we could be accused of showing bias. I mean, surely if you were to ask the same question of Sydney or Melbourne residents, they too would undoubtedly sing in praise of their home city!

So on the surface, although the question of being most liveable seems a simple one that elicits a simple response, it is undeniably subjective, depending on whom you may ask. So how could there ever be a singular, unbiased and definitive result?

Measures of Liveability

Through the media, we often hear reports of cities being regarded globally as the world’s best. So how are these cities ranked in order to make such sweeping claims?

There are a number of annual surveys conducted by economists worldwide, used to rank different cities in terms of their living conditions and producing a list ranking cities from the most desirable to the least. Three examples of such surveys are Monocle’s “Most Liveable Cities Index”, The Economist Intelligence Unit’s “Global Liveability Ranking”, and “Mercer Quality of Living Survey”.  These are the surveys most commonly referred to in mainstream media, with their results providing an accurate analysis of the most comprehensive sets of global statistical and survey data.

In sum, these surveys are based on the standards they have set for the quality of life of a city’s residents. These standards cover the major aspects of politics, economics, environment, personal safety, health, education, transportation, public service infrastructure, and culture.

For seven years consecutively, Melbourne, Australia has ranked number one in the EIU’s Global Liveability Ranking. And it does make Australians prouder that more than one Australian city appears in the Top 10. This year, in 2017, Australia was just short of claiming four cities that rank in the Top Ten, with Adelaide and Perth ranking sixth and seventh, and Sydney missing out by one spot, coming in as the 11^th.

Of course to us Australians, it’s likely to come as little surprise. Having grown up in “the lucky country”, we have always considered Australia to be the best place on earth! And to have it recognised legitimately on a global scale ensures our pride as a nation, with a desire to maintain our position, if not dominate it, as a further testament to our identity and inherent competitive nature.

The liveability of the Gold Coast

So having now established that it is not only Australians who believe our cities to be the most liveable – credit that to the global recognition through Mercer and The Economist, it is surely not unrealistic to consider the potential of the Gold Coast’s candidacy among this elite group.

Let us take a look at a snapshot of the Gold Coast in terms of the global liveability standards.

With a huge land area of 133,372 hectares (1,334 sq km) and an estimated population 576,918 as of 2016, we are looking at a population density of only 4.33 persons per hectare. That precious “elbow room” (that major cities do not have) offers many opportunities for young and old people to build a creative and sustainable life and livelihood, if they choose to.

There is also the aspect of natural spaces. The city has one of the most bio-diverse environments in Australia. It is home to 1,737 recorded native plant species, and almost 600 recorded native animal species. The Springbrook and Lamington plateaus form part of the Border Ranges group that protect areas of extremely high species diversity. The Moreton Bay provides international habitats for more than 30 migratory species.

As for doing business on the Gold Coast, those seeking to invest obviously consider the city’s reasonable cost of living, but they also place the aspects of a healthy individual and family wellbeing as high priority. This makes the city very attractive to young entrepreneurs who value their happiness, comfort and safety, along with financial stability and prosperity.

The Gold Coast is Australia’s sixth largest city and the largest non-capital city in the country. Long been regarded as Australia’s premier tourist destination hosting more than 12 million visitors a year, the city has unassumingly evolved from our nation’s beloved family beach holiday destination to a cosmopolitan city with the infrastructure to support it.

What undeniably began with the property boom in the 80’s, the city underwent massive development. From the high-rise holiday apartments to the development of the city’s canals and waterways, the changes in the dominant industry and an increase in employment, led to significant increases in the city’s economic prosperity. What was once driven solely by the tourism industry, the Gold Coast, with more than 58,000 registered businesses, now rely on a diverse range of industries to support its economy.

Unsurprisingly, the allure of the Gold Coast’s lifestyle and climate, boasting more than 57km of enviable coastline and 260km of navigable waterways, has established the city as the natural hub for Australia’s marine industry. The Gold Coast is home to one of the country’s largest boating communities and the base for domestic marine manufacturing. Globally, it is recognised as an industrial marine base, and home to the finest and most reputable domestic and international boating brands. The city also offers a unique lifestyle that translates into business for the marine industry. There are 890 kilometres of constructed residential waterfront land within the city that is home to over 80,000 residents. This opens up bigger opportunities for marine-related services and businesses locally.

The film industry is another major player that has ensured the prosperity of the Gold Coast. As home to the largest studio lot in the Southern Hemisphere, the attractive climate, along with its incredibly, diverse natural environment and favourable cost of living, continue to ensure the Gold Coast viability and preferred production location.

With consistent economic growth, protected natural resources, and a growing permanent population, the city further evolved, developing the infrastructure to support the new demands of its population.

The Gold Coast ticks the other aspects of a city’s liveability – education, transport, and health. The city’s popularity as a university city is ever increasing. It is the home to three universities and more than 80 schools, giving students the opportunity to study in world-class educational facilities, in an affordable idyllic city. Further recent developments to the Gold Coast’s public transport, which have seen the city’s new tram line open (with Phase 2 in the works), have further helped in defining the Gold Coast’s new and more metropolitan façade. The undeniable high quality of medical services and personnel also provides residents peace of mind when it comes to their health and wellbeing.

A changing cultural environment that started from the “sun, sand, surf, and sex” marketing is taking shape on the Gold Coast. A more mature and cosmopolitan music, arts, sports and recreation world is being established, perhaps as a result of a growing culturally diverse population. The city government provides many support services to artists and young people that enhance creativity and encourage diversity.

Beyond all these elements, one aspect that sets the Gold Coast apart from other Australian cities is its affordability of housing. The exponential rise in the cost of real estate in other Australian cities has meant many people cannot even consider entering the market. But here on the Coast, you can still get “good bang for your buck” and the people of this country know it.

The future may hold something different for the city. But for now, the Gold Coast is indeed a great place to live, for all of the reasons discussed here and many, many more. So, it does not matter much whether it features on “The World’s Most Liveable Cities”. For those of us who live here, we already know.

*Sophie is a resident of the Gold Coast, who freelances as a writer and producer in the television industry. With a unique and varied background, starting her career as a linguist, her desire for further creativity led her into the world of tourism and television. 

The post Gold Coast: Most Liveable City appeared first on Boat Gold Coast.

Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning, Cameron Dick said the master plan will establish a shared vision for the long-term future of The Spit.

“The community will be involved throughout the master planning process, as we work with a highly talented group of planning and design experts to produce an outstanding master plan for The Spit,” Mr Dick said.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to create jobs for the Gold Coast through tourism, entertainment and recreation, while preserving the character of The Spit.

“The master plan will include input from the Gold Coast City Council and the Gold Coast Waterways Authority.

“People can visit https://www.qld.gov.au/southport-spit, to find information about the pop-up sessions and how to subscribe to receive updates about the consultation process.”

Member for Gaven, Meaghan Scanlon said the pop-up sessions offered residents the perfect opportunity to have their views heard on the future of The Spit.

“I would urge everyone who is interested in the future of this iconic part of the Coast to visit one of the pop-up stalls and have their say,” Ms Scanlon said.

Information collected at the pop-up sessions will feed into a major consultation event to be held in late April, which will enable key stakeholders to put forward their vision for the future of The Spit and contribute to setting the direction of the master planning process.

The Coordinator-General has independently assessed the City of Gold Coast’s application for its proposed ocean-side cruise ship terminal to be declared a coordinated project and, in light of the current master planning process, has decided not to declare the project.

The Coordinator-General’s decision does not prevent the council from progressing the proposal, nor does it preclude the council from reapplying to the Coordinator-General following the completion of the master plan.

Mr Dick said the recent release by the government of an Invitation to Offer for master planning services is an important step in the master plan process and encouraged interested consultants to visit the Queensland government’s QTenders website.

Offers must be submitted by 2pm Tuesday 6 February 2018.

RELATED LINKS

https://haveyoursay.dilgp.qld.gov.au/the-spit

https://www.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/major-projects/community-consultation.html

The post Southport Spit Development: Have your say appeared first on Boat Gold Coast.

So it is not hard to see that you just would not leave your boat unattended swinging around on its anchor. You might say you can lock it up and head ashore, just as you would leave the car and head into the shopping centre, but they are not the same. There is no ‘P’ to move the gear selector to, and no handbrake to apply. There is far more of an onus on you to apply a reasonable common sense test. Ask yourself, “Am I really doing the best thing by all?”

Boats are more like a constant state of flux than cars. They are susceptible to multiple inputs, often simultaneously. Usually it is not one thing going awry that leads to disaster, but more like a collection, or string, with the first merely one stop on a train ride to a very bad place.

Of course, the old adage, “a chain is only as strong as its weakest link”, comes to mind promptly, and it is incredibly apt here, given that this is an article about leaving your boat unattended whilst at anchor. Boats stop and go by virtue of things like anchors or ropes to quay, and then sails or engines. All these things have variables, like depth of water, wind, fuel, and so on. (We have another article about how best to perform safe anchoring, which you can read here: http://www.pantaenius.com.au/en/news-events/news/newsartikel/news/safe-anchoring-1.html)

The key is to remember to never turn your back on the ocean. Weather and tides change all the time. What might have been a safe anchorage when you arrived could turn into a 6knot tidal flow on the next change. Alternatively, a new wind may blow in from nowhere. If you’re up at dinner or asleep in a hotel ashore, you’ve just left your boat to make choices for itself. Without human intervention, they always go for the one with the biggest muscles.

At that point, you’re asking your insurer to make a leap of faith for you, and the answers may not necessarily be the ones you want to hear either. Leaving a boat unattended at anchor for an extended period of time overnight, or even during the day, is risky due to potential changes in the overall weather window, namely, tide, wind, and waves. Any one of them in isolation can be serious, and with all three it’s pretty much bound to be.

So before you step off, ask yourself, “Am I taking a risk that I want to take? Or am I taking a risk lightly because my insurance company will deal with it?” Remember, it is only if you are not on board, because if you are, you can do something to prevent it going from a simple anchor dragging to a total misery. That’s the human intervention we mentioned earlier. There are your own senses to help you, and also many an electronic aid in the form of Radar and GPS.

Ultimately, it’s no accident if a boat drags when you are not there. More like a matter of time really. One example comes to mind immediately. A section of corroded chain on the sea floor fouled an anchor when it moved, and the boat up top had a speedy and sorry demise to near death, many miles away. The owners had been on board for several days waiting to get into a local marina, and decided that as nothing had happened already, they could go ashore for the night.

The simple version is that the wind rose, the tide dropped and the boat was holed, lost a rudder and sail drive all together, as well as extensive damage from water ingress into the starboard hull. Her 30m of 10mm chain and 30kg CQR were rendered useless as the damage bill climbed towards $100,000 and took four months to rectify, all of which became a very expensive night ashore.

So what does it all mean? Well, you should consider hiring someone to be your anchor watch. In a lot of the world it is cheap, and then too, in other parts it is downright dangerous, so you need to pick your country. Also, you can always reshuffle the deck so you can get a berth in a marina, and then have that precious time ashore.

Simply put, just think of this. When you’re at anchor, make sure your boat is held fast in the first place, and then keep checking it at regular intervals. Why? Because things always change, and that’s especially so when at sea.

Now if you want clarification on your policy, or to review your requirements, please talk with the crew that know boats. Go to www.pantaenius.com.au or call +61 2 9936 1670 today and see why everything from superyachts to global cruisers choose the marine originated, all-risk policy that only Pantaenius can provide you with.

By John Curnow for Pantaenius

The post Hold Fast appeared first on Boat Gold Coast.

In 1878, Charles’ grandfather, Reginald, brought his family and friends down from Brisbane on a steam ship to enjoy a quiet holiday on Stradbroke Island (before the island split into two). The joys of the island’s abundant fishing, sailing and surfing appealed so much that Regi and his friends purchased 10 acres in 1885. They built a holiday camp structure which was the beginnings of Roe’s Kamp, which neighbours the home Charles lives in today.

The camp was built on the very southern end of Stradbroke. It was not until a huge storm in 1897 that the water broke through at Jumpinpin to create the North and South Stradbroke Islands we know today. Unfortunately for Roe’s Kamp, mother nature was not finished. Another huge storm in 1938 washed away the entire southern end of South Stradbroke Island (South Straddie), forcing the camp to be relocated to its current spot, opposite Runaway Bay. The Gold Coast Council later took advantage of the washed away portion of South Straddie to create the Seaway we now enjoy.

The final environmental challenge the Roe family faced was the relentless movement of the sand dunes. Harsh ocean winds and a large population of cattle and horses created a perfect storm of loose sand that pushed the large dunes inland at an alarming rate. The dunes might create the perfect spot for a game of sand hockey one year, and then it would be buried the next year.

Thankfully, with a little help from a friend of Charles, the government created the Beach Protection Authority, which banned cattle and horses on the island. This step allowed the grass to begin growing and stabilise the sandy ecosystem enough for native plants to get a foothold. Within two years, the sand dunes’ dangerous movement had been completely halted.

In spite of the environmental difficulties, the Roe family has been entranced by the Straddie lifestyle for more than 100 years. Charles fondly describes waters teaming with so many fish he could see clouds of them regularly. Bream, whiting and tailor were all in such good supply that the family routinely caught more than they could eat. An oversupply of fresh fish is a good problem to have, and it taught the family to become highly skilled at smoking and preserving their catches.

The fishing was so good on the ocean side of South Straddie that Charles’ grandad Regi would head into the surf with nothing but a makeshift pole and a 100m line tied to the tip. Using pippies or sandworms the family had caught themselves as bait, the fish would be biting in no time. Once Regi had a good bite, he would just walk backwards out of the surf until his catch was bouncing on the sand. Talk about the perfect lifestyle!

The Roes were not shy about tackling big fish with some pretty modest gear either. Another family favourite were sharks caught in the Broadwater. To tempt the sharks, the Roes would skewer a stingray as bait onto the end of a long chain, then toss it from a boat into the depths, while the other end of the chain was tied to a tree. The system regularly worked a charm and gave them plenty of big feeds, with their proudest catch being a 12-and-a-half foot hammerhead. Although, they must have caught something even bigger on the day a mighty shark snapped one of the trees and swam off with it.

Sailing has always been another key passion for the Roe family. Charles remembers many fond days spent on their 18-foot open boat with its French lug sail. His father, Stanley, was always keen for a before-lunch sail on the Broadwater, which meant there would be much scrambling to raise sails and check fastenings while everyone madly pitched in to help as they were pushing off.

Over the course of the last century, little has changed in the Roe family’s love affair with Straddie. They began the century rowing across the Broadwater each day to get fresh bread, meat and milk from a little grocery store where The Grand hotel now sits at Deepwater Point. Today, Charles admits it is easier to pull his boat up to the Runaway Bay shops and just fill up a trolley, but otherwise life remains very similar. He also appreciates the invention of mobile phones, which make it easy to stay in touch with his family. According to Charles, the changes he could do without are computers and the busier water traffic, which is increasing the erosion on the island.

To secure Roe Kamp for his family, Charles purchased a freehold title for both the camp and the land next door for 500 pounds each in the 1960s, although he reckons he could have got it even cheaper if not for another bidder pushing the price up. He also built a permanent house beside the campsite in 1994, shortly after he retired to live permanently on the island.

So, what’s the secret to Charles’ long life? Keeping your mind and body active are essential according to the 99 year-old. His daily routine includes swinging a heavy wood splitter over his head 50 times each morning. He also enjoys a swim in the Broadwater each day at the top of the tide, when the water is at its clearest. He does two bursts of swimming as hard as he can push his body, before heading back for lunch and then a nanna nap. Charles enjoys a pretty traditional diet of meat and three veg. He is especially partial to lamb chops, although he admits to cutting back from two chops to one now that he is less active.

And what does the future hold for Charles and the Roe’s Kamp? Well, Charles has deeded the camp to his three daughters, who are all doctors like him, but are now retired with their own grandkids. So, it looks like the future of Roe’s Kamp is in good hands.

By Narayan Pattision

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ROE’S KAMP

Roe’s Kamp was established in the 1880s by then Brisbane Grammar School’s Headmaster, Reginald Heber Roe. Roe’s Kamp was reputed to be the first to establish the principle of outdoor living and camping as an educational principle in Australia. It was originally named Whirobo Camp, which was an acronym of the family names of the three friends who bought adjacent properties on Stradbroke Island in the 1880s, namely Whish, Roe and Box. At some stage, after 1890, Whirobo Camp was renamed Roe’s Kamp, the spelling meant to convey mischievous humour and perhaps signal its humble establishment in a setting not grand enough to be formally designated as a ‘Camp’. (However, Charles believes the ‘K’ was to honour a camp regular, Katherine Jones, or Kitty as she was better known.)

The camp reflected Roe’s philosophical commitment to ensuring that an academic education be integrated into all-round development. Here, the boys were able to enjoy communal living and comradeship far removed from the classroom environment. Roe’s Camp was almost swallowed up by the sea in 1938, despite the installation of trenches and walls. It was subsequently dismantled and relocated further north at Picnic Point.

(Exerpt from Whirobo to Roe’s Kamp: Early Days of Adventure Training, published by the Brisbane Grammar School in 2014.)

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