Department of Transport announced new mooring zones

Comet Bay, Dawesville, Soldiers Cove and Mandurah Bridge South have been recommended to the Department of Transport as official mooring zones, in an effort to prevent unauthorised moorings in these areas.
 
It comes after Transport Minister Troy Buswell proclaimed the Peel Mooring Control Area in September last year as part of a statewide strategy to address their continued spread and potentially adverse impacts.
 
“As part of this process, the Department of Transport has been working with key stakeholders, including the City of Mandurah, to agree on zones within the wider mooring control area where moorings will be permitted,” Mandurah Mayor Paddi Creevey said.
 
“The City plays an important role in relation to activities on Peel waterways and has provided feedback on the best options.”
 
Mooring zones for Comet Bay will be immediately in front of the old Mandurah Fishing Club and at Dawesville, where there has been a long history of unauthorised moorings.
 
“Within the Comet Bay and Dawesville designated areas, the Department of Transport will initially install five public courtesy moorings at each site,” Mayor Creevey said.
 
“All moorings within these two areas will need to be registered, subject to Department of Transport conditions, and there is a provision for new installations depending on the available space within the Dawesville zone.
 
“There are also two existing sites with a very small number of moorings at Soldiers Cove and immediately south of the old Mandurah Traffic Bridge – but there will be no new moorings available at these sites.”
 
Mayor Creevey thanked the Department of Transport for addressing for what was becoming a serious problem in these areas.
 
“Careful management of the estuary and surrounding waters must remain a high priority for all levels of government, and the community, if we are to protect this precious resource,” she said.

- Chris Thomas