Marine Park to Open - Narooma News 20-6-07

[ACTAngler]

Marine Park to open
Stan Gorton
 
THE Batemans Marine Park that extends from Bawley Point to Wallaga Lake comes into effect in just over a week.

The Marine Park Authority based in Narooma is finalising arrangements including signs, personnel and boats with new brochures and advertising also meant to inform people of the park's rules and regulations that come into effect on July 1.

One bit of fun associated with the park's opening is a light plane towing a banner along the coast weather dependent with a message about the park's opening.

Marine park manager Geoff Kelly is in the process of hiring seven personnel including rangers, an education officer and a compliance officer.

The park authority has also purchased a small, aluminium vessel for estuary patrols while a larger 8-metre rigid-inflatable craft for open ocean work is currently under construction at Nowra.

Mr Kelly has also ordered 45 signs that will be placed at boat ramps and other key visitor areas, while another set of signs will be placed at park boundaries and walk-in areas.

The first set of sea buoys will be placed at Clarke Bay in Wagonga inlet to mark where the sanctuary zone begins, while other locations to get these buoys include the Tollgate Islands.

But Mr Kelly said the authority wanted to keep these expensive buoys to a minimum, and so none would be placed at Montague Island for the time being.

"Our approach is to do what is obviously necessary and then wait to get feedback from people about what is working," he said.

Mr Kelly said the rangers would be lenient with fines in the first year wanting it to be a learning exercise for those who use the waters.

"We want it to be a joint exercise with the community and for the community to take ownership and pride in the marine park," he said.

The authority would also review the park boundaries and regulations after five years, which would give local users of the marine environment an opportunity to have a say in its day-to-day management.

Mr Kelly said the timing of the park was purposefully done in winter, which would give locals an opportunity to see how the park worked before the busy tourist season.

The park has an operating budget of $750,000 in its first year, while the State Government's allocation of $150,000 to promote the fact coast is still open to fishing has already been spent.

Despite the fact that 80 per cent of the marine park will remain open to recreational fishing, the owner of Narooma's Ocean Hut tackle shop Darryl Bond says more needs to be done to promote the area.

"There is still a lot of confusion out there and we are getting people saying they won't be coming back after the marine park," Mr Bond said.

Recreational fishers wanted to know specifically where they would be allowed to fish with Mr Bond suggesting the park authority release GPS marks.

Commercial fishers meanwhile have also been heavily impacted on by the park with all trawling banned while a total of 37 professional fishers have decided to take the buy-out from the State.

[ACTAngler]

So the park opens in a week, they haven't got staff yet, the signs aren't up yet, there won't be any buoys at Montague, and they want the community to take "pride and ownership" in the thing?  Spare me!

[Spiney]

In contrast the MPA had a 6 metre boat and staff months before the Great Lakes Port Stevens marine park zoning came into being earlier this year. Hopefully the gloss has worm off marine parks somewhat.

[cap]

But Mr Kelly said the authority wanted to keep these expensive buoys to a minimum, and so none would be placed at Montague Island for the time being.

Another words they're underfunded and the Montague Is area is still up in the air with the court case thats going on at the moment. Which no matter the outcome in the end it makes a total mockery of the marine park process

and secondly it shows it for what it is really a half arsed attempt at supposedly protecting the environment, when in reality it really was a ploy for green votes in the city.

The only time i'll be going to narooma is for the blues festival in October and this may be my last, as the accomodation prices are getting way out of hand

[ACTAngler]

The only time i'll be going to narooma is for the blues festival in October and this may be my last, as the accomodation prices are getting way out of hand

It's a real shame, isn't it Cap?  One of the nicest places on the South Coast is being destroyed for some greenie ideal.  The best jewie/big flattie spots in Wagonga are gone, Montague may be effectively gone, great beaches, accessible headlands gone.

I've sold my caravan at Easts, will probably cut back to one or two trips a year (as apposed to 6-7).  Real shame.

We normally book the Olympic Cabins at Island View for the club.  Works out about $20-$25/night a head.  Great social atmosphere too.

[Oly]

I understand that the Manager has resigned.  That would make 2 in what 12 months.

Also interesting that the TAC committee have banned commercial abalone fishing north of Tuross for the 07-08 year. I assume this means the commercial abalone area near Durras is now a sanctuary zone... funny how things work out really

[ACTAngler]

I understand that the Manager has resigned.  That would make 2 in what 12 months.

Yep, was reported in Narooma News on Wednesday.  Apparently he took up a job in the Territory.  Hopefully the next person LISTENS and their favourite colour is NOT green...

Also interesting that the TAC committee have banned commercial abalone fishing north of Tuross for the 07-08 year. I assume this means the commercial abalone area near Durras is now a sanctuary zone... funny how things work out really

Hah!  They got their special zone and aren't allowed to use it!

[Spiney]

Posted on ABC radio website Friday 27th
Parks service plays down further marine park job loss
Posted Fri Jul 27, 2007 1:45pm AEST
Updated Fri Jul 27, 2007 1:44pm AEST


 The state park service says it is not worried that another manager of the controversial marine park on the New South Wales far south coast has quit.

Batemans Marine Park manager Jeff Kelly has resigned to work in the Northern Territory.

His departure comes just over a month after the reserve became operational. The marine park also lost its initial manager last year.

But National Parks and Wildlife Service regional manager Tim Shepherd says although he is sorry to see Mr Kelly go, all the hard work has been done.

He says the winter lull will allow time to appoint a new manager ready for the summer holiday influx of visitors.

"What will be critical over summer is maintaining the momentum of the education program in a way which isn't too much confrontation, in a way which isn't talking about booking people for accidentally going into sanctuary zones or the like," he said.

"Spending a lot of time ensuring the staff are out on the water, are at the boat ramp, on the beaches, talking to people and just raising awareness over that summer period."


Also of Interest


Batemans Marine Park education process to take time
26 Jul 2007   - 2 days ago -
 

[billfisher]

I'm sure I could give marine park staff an education if they approached me at the boat ramp!

[Oly]

Just spent a weekend down there.  Watched boats fishing sanctuary areas.  NO sign of officers educating people, no sign of bouys to indicate boundaries or signs at the Batemans bay ramp.  Good education going on there.  Sanctuary areas were as clear as mud

[Monty]

Can I still fish around Brush Island off Bawley point.

[ACTAngler]

Can I still fish around Brush Island off Bawley point.

http://www.mpa.nsw.gov.au/pdf/bmp-map.pdf

[CEO]

The Cape Byron Political Park and the Batemans Park were both identified as "zoning disasters," by fisheries scientists and bureaucrats as recently as 16/11/07.