6:28 AM Mon 15 Mar 2010 GMT 'Ports and Waterways Minister Paul McLeay (far left) and Matt Brown, MP, (far right) launch a new flare disposal system at Kiama with NSW Maritime BSO Mike Baldwin and Billy McColl from WorkCover NSW.' NSW Maritime &copy Click Here to view large photo Distress signalling flares can help save lives in an emergency but are only as good as their use-by date. Minister for Ports and Waterways, Paul McLeay and Member for Kiama, Matt Brown, today launched a new disposal system for out-of-date flares. 'Flares are essential emergency signalling equipment for boats in open waters. Therefore it's a compulsory safety requirement for boaters to carry them when operating offshore,' Mr McLeay said. Mr Brown said the problem is flares expire after three years. 'After this time, there is no guarantee they will fire when needed.' 'This is why flares must be replaced before they expire and old flares, which are classed as explosives, must be disposed of properly.' 'If trouble strikes off the coast, it can be difficult to attract help and that is why flares are essential safety equipment for skippers boating on open seas,' Mr Brown said. 'Every boat going on open seas should carry a minimum of two red hand flares (for night or day use) and two orange smoke flares (for day use), although some exemptions may apply.' Flares can now be placed into special containers at NSW Maritime centres where they are stored for collection and transported to the Sterihealth facility at Silverwater, Sydney. The expired flares will then be destroyed at ultra-high temperature under strict environmental conditions. Mr McLeay said the new flare disposal system was the result of a close partnership between NSW Maritime, WorkCover NSW and the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water. 'There are some 230,000 vessels registered in NSW with around 10 per cent being used for offshore boating.' 'We recognised the need for this service among boaters, with many reporting that they were confused about where to take them.' 'Some flares, it appears may have been ending up in landfill. We now have a disposal option that is safer and better for the environment,' Mr McLeay said. The trial will run until July 2011 and will be reviewed before that date. www.maritime.nsw.gov.au by Natalie Laharnar

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