Mackay Port Authority Talks could help young sailors Article first published on Friday, 23 April 2004 @ 9:52:59 AM

The Mackay Port Authority is investigating avenues that could allow junior sailors to continue to train in Mackay Harbour.

The Federal Government’s new anti-terrorism regulations are threatening to sink all leisure activities within Mackay’s commercial harbour precinct.

Mackay Port Authority chairman John Taylor said senior officers were reviewing the new legislation and the port’s obligations under the Maritime Transport Security Act.

The regulations require the MPA to introduce exclusion zones within the commercial harbour from July 1.

“We have taken on board the concerns of the Mackay Yacht Club, in particular the situation involving the club’s dinghy division and the training of junior sailors,” Mr Taylor said.

“It’s too early to say if we have room to manoeuvre. It would be nice to think that we can find a compromise, even if it is on an ad hoc basis when there are no ships in the harbour, or there are no departures or arrivals.We will be examining all possibilities.”

Mr Taylor said he would meet with the club’s commodore Nev Edwards and the dinghy division’s rear commodore Jake Madden on Tuesday to discuss a variety of issues including security and safety.

Under the new Act, the Mackay Port Authority will be required to monitor, manage and where possible police the “no go” or exclusion areas.

Safety within the harbour precinct will also be raised in light of a potentially dangerous situation last Saturday in which an outrigger canoe capsized after venturing too close to the rear of a tug engaged in berthing a sugar ship.

The incident has sparked a marine investigation by the regional harbour master.

Mr Taylor said Regional Harbour Master John Ellyett would also attend Tuesday’s meeting to outline his concerns over current activities within the harbour.

“The incident involving the outrigger paddler on Saturday is testimony of the potential dangers than can arise when you combine commercial shipping with boating and leisure activities in a busy harbour,“ he said.

“Fortunately, this person wasn’t injured, but he could have been seriously injured or killed.”