Boating Warning for Georges River

by AAP MediaNet on 5 Feb 2008 Continuing rains are raising boating safety concerns on the Georges River, according to NSW Maritime Botany Bay/ Port Hacking Area Manager Graeme Dunlavie.

Mr Dunlavie said the river was swollen and carrying substantial amounts of debris.

“People thinking of using the river need to be extremely cautious at the moment,” he said.

“There is a considerable amount of debris in the river, much of it organic such as trees that have been washed down through the catchment.

“This debris not only presents a hazard to people navigating the river in boats but it also can foul and damage mooring lines.

“NSW Maritime recommends boat owners in the area take time to check their moorings to ensure they are secure and undamaged.

“It is also recommended owners inspecting their moored craft have onboard tarps or drains working properly because the heavy rains can cause such vessels to sink if left unattended for too long.”

Mr Dunlavie said flooding rivers also put the system of navigation markers under some threat.

“These markers are the traffic signs for our waterways and the combination of heavy rains and debris can lead to marker buoys being damaged, shifting or breaking free,” he said.

“It is recommended that people navigating the river do so with caution until the waterway returns to normal and any information regarding damaged or shifting marker buoys should be reported to NSW Maritime.”

“The sooner we are aware of such damage, the sooner it can be fixed.”

Information regarding problems with navigation markers can be passed Info Line on 13 12 56.