I haven't had experience but was your involvement in this trying to get a mooring at Square Head or Boulee Island?

Square Head?

I know it's a personal choice, but in about five years of fairly regular sailing out of Batemans, I think I saw one of the yachts at Square Head go for a sail. I don't know whether it was the access issue or what, but something seemed to stop peoplem with yachts there from taking them out.

Ramona said..
It might not just be National Parks. I'm just outside the JB park and the maritime people are making life difficult for some people trying to renew their permits because of seagrass. They have nominated areas they reckon have seagrass and are stopping their use. Naturally, there is no seagrass in the area!

The issue I struck is marine parks rather than national parks. The JB marine park is one of several on the NSW coast. It covers 100km of coast line from Kinghorn Point south to Sussex Inlet. See www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/marine-protected-areas/marine-parks/jervis-bay-marine-park As I understand it, the current state of play is that new private moorings cannot be placed in marine parks without a full development application being made and approved. And because of that Transport for NSW has stopped issuing mooring licences in marine parks until they have agreed handling with the department responsible for marine parks. So far as I am aware existing moorings are not affected, although it may be the relevant department could decide to require them to be removed if they are assessed as a problem for the environment. The general issue with swing moorings is the chain effectively scrapes clear a large area of the seabed as it drags around in a circle. www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/habitat/threats/traditional-boat-moorings-in-sensitive-habitats When I was looking into this for the mooring licence I applied for in Bateman's Bay, I discovered Transport for NSW is engaged in research with the CSIRO into seagrass friendly moorings. From mid 2023, "twelve environmentally friendly moorings were deployed for a 2-year in-water trial in Port Stephens-Great Lakes Marine Park, Sydney Harbour and Jervis Bay Marine Park." www.marine.nsw.gov.au/knowledge-centre/newsroom/news/2023-news/new-research-to-make-boating-moor-seagrass-safe I also founds there's an outfit in Sydney offering a seagrass friendly system that involves driving a screw pile into the seabed (rather than placing a concrete block), and having the chain suspended above the seabed. seagrassmooring.com.au/mooring-systems Not plugging the outfit, but I was considering including it in my development application when I was still figuring out whether I could get the licence I'd applied for.

This web page makes it pretty clear that new moorings in marine parks face significant hurdles: www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/marine-protected-areas/installing-or-relocating-moorings-in-nsw-marine-parks

Quixotic said..

Ramona said..
It might not just be National Parks. I'm just outside the JB park and the maritime people are making life difficult for some people trying to renew their permits because of seagrass. They have nominated areas they reckon have seagrass and are stopping their use. Naturally, there is no seagrass in the area!

The issue I struck is marine parks rather than national parks. The JB marine park is one of several on the NSW coast. It covers 100km of coast line from Kinghorn Point south to Sussex Inlet. See www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/marine-protected-areas/marine-parks/jervis-bay-marine-park As I understand it, the current state of play is that new private moorings cannot be placed in marine parks without a full development application being made and approved. And because of that Transport for NSW has stopped issuing mooring licences in marine parks until they have agreed handling with the department responsible for marine parks. So far as I am aware existing moorings are not affected, although it may be the relevant department could decide to require them to be removed if they are assessed as a problem for the environment. The general issue with swing moorings is the chain effectively scrapes clear a large area of the seabed as it drags around in a circle. www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/habitat/threats/traditional-boat-moorings-in-sensitive-habitats When I was looking into this for the mooring licence I applied for in Bateman's Bay, I discovered Transport for NSW is engaged in research with the CSIRO into seagrass friendly moorings. From mid 2023, "twelve environmentally friendly moorings were deployed for a 2-year in-water trial in Port Stephens-Great Lakes Marine Park, Sydney Harbour and Jervis Bay Marine Park." www.marine.nsw.gov.au/knowledge-centre/newsroom/news/2023-news/new-research-to-make-boating-moor-seagrass-safe I also founds there's an outfit in Sydney offering a seagrass friendly system that involves driving a screw pile into the seabed (rather than placing a concrete block), and having the chain suspended above the seabed. seagrassmooring.com.au/mooring-systems Not plugging the outfit, but I was considering including it in my development application when I was still figuring out whether I could get the licence I'd applied for.

This web page makes it pretty clear that new moorings in marine parks face significant hurdles: www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/marine-protected-areas/installing-or-relocating-moorings-in-nsw-marine-parks

Ramona will know but I'm pretty sure the screw in type were trialled at Callala Bay in Jervis Bay a few years ago. From memory the base under the sand is clay and they weren't that successful. I have seen some trialled here in Sydney that has spring type shock absorber built into the upright section. As we know the load on moorings isn't vertical. All the ones I saw were broken.

I found this site useful for looking at the history of moorings in Sydney...
moorings [dot] weezeewig [dot] com

Here's the link to the article: www.newsofthearea.com.au/port-stephens-mooring-options-on-waiting-lists

As I understand it, it is not only about seagrass.

Transport for NSW has the right under its legislation to issue private mooring licences.

The Department of Housing, Planning and Infrastructure, and before it the Department of Primary Industries, regulates marine parks under legislation for which it is responsible. The DPI and now DHPI require new private moorings in all marine parks to meet the requirements of a full development application (the sort you would have to lodge through the local council for an onshore building development or a new jetty). This is quite difficult to do, although presumably not impossible. I had done most of a DA for a mooring in Batemans Bay, but had the opportunity to relocate to a mooring in Sydney, which I took up for other reasons, so didn't follow through.

So, as I understand it, provided you lodge a successful development application for your new (or relocated) mooring (through the local council and also accepted by DHPI), there is no basis on which Transport should withhold your private mooring licence, provided there are private mooring licences available in the locality (ie it is not at capacity with a waiting list for that reason).

As I understand it, the standstill since last year is a result of Transport taking the view that its legislation gives it the right to issue private mooring licences, regardless of DHPI's legislation. DHPI doesn't accept that [I'm not a lawyer, but I think DHPI are correct]. So Transport has suspended issuing new private mooring licences in marine parks until the dispute between the departments is resolved. It is Transport's decision to suspend issuing private mooring licences, it is not DHPI's.

When I spoke to a more senior officer in Transport about my situation in Batemans Bay, he said if I could get the DA accepted, then Transport would issue me a mooring licence. But as above, I moved on for other reasons.

jbsc said..
The Various departments need to pull themselves together and come up with a solution for this. It looks to me like DPI/marine parks is deliberately dragging out the negotiations because in the meantime they are getting what they want. No new moorings and massive headaches for vessel owners discouraging them from enjoying the marine park.

We purchased a business in Jervis bay at the beginning of this year after receiving assurances from transport NSW that there would be no problems transferring the mooring license. I have a recording of the conversation. 9 months later and they wont even accept my application. I'm now dependent on the previous owner to keep the mooring registered, and am being forced to operate from a grey area where we dont own our own mooring. This is more like the petty behavior of a third world government than a developed nation.

It has a lot to do with Agenda 2030 but the brain dead have no idea they are being herded into a pen .

woko said..
Not just national parks, in the Clarence river as vessels are being sold the mooring licences aren't being reallocated. There is native title on the river so perhaps the land council is hanging out for a better deal, and to add insult vessels on anchor waiting for a mooring are being moved on or fined

Native land claims are the elephant around the corner.
As a citizen of NSW you are not allowed to see these claims and if you apply to do so you have to prove a connection or use of said area being claimed before they will admit there is even a claim.
There is a special NSW gov department that looks for unused areas to claim them for local Land Councils.
Hint: use the DP number in any application through your local MP.

Now how many unapproved land claims are there in NSW = 85,000 PLUS!!!!

woko said..

nswsailor said..

woko said..
Not just national parks, in the Clarence river as vessels are being sold the mooring licences aren't being reallocated. There is native title on the river so perhaps the land council is hanging out for a better deal, and to add insult vessels on anchor waiting for a mooring are being moved on or fined

Native land claims are the elephant around the corner.
As a citizen of NSW you are not allowed to see these claims and if you apply to do so you have to prove a connection or use of said area being claimed before they will admit there is even a claim.
There is a special NSW gov department that looks for unused areas to claim them for local Land Councils.
Hint: use the DP number in any application through your local MP.

Now how many unapproved land claims are there in NSW = 85,000 PLUS!!!!

I don't see native title on the Clarence as a bad thing quite the contrary, it will slow development & associated degradation. Perhaps the slow turn over of moorings is due to a lack of motivation in the maritime department

I rest my case.

woko said..
If you head over to shooting the breeze there's plenty of conspiracy theories going around and as luck has it there is an opening for a new player at present

Not necessary for me woko as I have stated from fact on an Aboriginal land claim No DP758603 at 6 Pilot Beach Road, Camden Head. NSW Look it up then apologies!

Current information on what is required for new or relocated moorings in marine parks is at: www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/marine-protected-areas/installing-or-relocating-moorings-in-nsw-marine-parks

These requirements are administered by the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), which has responsibilities under various laws, including the Fisheries Management Act (NSW) and regulations. Not Transport for NSW.

Essentially, as per my post starting this thread, it is still supposedly possible to get a permit for a new or relocated mooring in a marine park. It is a lot more complicated and difficult than it once was, as it requires getting local council development approval in many places (see list on web page at above link), and also approval from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development,

And of course you still need a mooring licence from Transport for NSW.

In my experience the local councils are unsure how to deal with development applications for moorings as this is a relatively new requirement which they haven't had to deal with in the past. A planning officer at the Shire of Eurobodalla who I dealt with when I was looking to get a private mooring in Batemans Bay acknowledged that their DA process was set up more for applications related to construction on land, and recommended I hire planning consultants. I wasn't about to do that, and so worked up most of an application on my own. I also liaised with the local DPI rep, who said he'd review my application quickly once it reached that stage. But as per my earlier posting, I ended up relocating my boat to Sydney for other reasons.

In one sense, DPIRD is being open and up front about what they require - hence the web page as per above link.

But in my view it would be a lot clearer for people if Transport for NSW also stated (and linked to) the requirements of DPIRD in respect of marine parks, on its private moorings information pages. If you go to www.nsw.gov.au/driving-boating-and-transport/using-waterways-boating-and-transport-information/mooring-type-licence-and-fees/private-mooring-licence-and-rules the DPIRD requirements in marine parks are not mentioned (as at 10 Nov 2024) on that page. Confusingly, in my view, that page does talk about Reviews of Environmental Factors (REF) which Transport for NSW is required to do, but even the FAQs on those do not mention the DPIRD requirements in marine parks. See www.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/noindex/2024-04/moorings-ref-faqs.pdf

So if you just go to the information on moorings in Transport for NSW web pages, which is where most people would go when looking for information on getting or relocating a mooring, you wont find out up front, the extra requirements of DPIRD for marine parks.

I think that makes it difficult for people to easily discover what the NSW government (as a whole) requires for mooring applications in marine parks, across all departments. That lacks transparency and is poor practice, in my view.

This is a crime by the state & the marine industry hidden in a grey fog of BS & buckpassing.