New Maritime Advisory Council for NSW

by Office of the Minister for Roads and Ports on 30 Jan 2012 A new 11-member council has been formed to govern boating safety and waterway issues.

As part of the Government’s commitment to restore accountability and give boaters a real say, a new Ministerial level Maritime Advisory Council will be established under legislation by Minster for Roads and Ports, Duncan Gay.

Mr Gay said the Council would have the responsibility of being another source of expert and independent advice to the Minister on boating safety, as well as monitoring boating crash statistics and trends, and advising on expenditure priorities.

The Council will be independently chaired, and will have expertise based representation from the major recreational boating and commercial vessel sectors.

'Sitting under the new integrated transport agency, Transport for NSW, this new advisory council will set new standards for transparency and accountability,' he said.

'Those sought out to give advice to the Minister will be people who live and breathe the industry.'

'One of the first priorities for the Council will be to help develop a policy agenda for safety reforms, access to waterways, and boat storage.

'These three challenges have been squarely laid at our door and I’m looking to the Council, key boating groups, and everyone who enjoys boating of any kind to help solve these problems,' Mr Gay said.

Members of the Maritime Advisory Council include:
Darren Vaux (Chair) who is director and principal of the Empire Marina at Bobbin Head and an office bearer of three peak industry associations, including the Boating Industry Association, the Boating Industries Alliance of Australia and the Marina Industry Association of Australia.

Kay Cottee AO (Deputy Chair), former Australian of the Year and a distinguished sailor, who has run a boat building business at Yamba. She was a member of the committee responsible for forming Marine Rescue NSW.

Guy Bailey, who has extensive involvement in commercial marine and marine infrastructure operations and is the owner/operator of Rottnest Ferries and Director and Major Project Manager of Bailey's Marine Fuels Australia.

John Barbouttis, the owner of both the Gladesville Bridge Marina and Beacon Marine in Fremantle, Director of Motor Yacht Marine Holdings P/L and Commodore of the Royal Motor Yacht Club NSW Inc.

David Edwards, General Manager of Yachting NSW, a Board Member of the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron and a member of the Marine Rescue NSW Consultative Committee.

Ian Ford, the founder of charter vessel companies Bass and Flinders and Manly Fast Ferries and secretary of the Commercial Vessels Association of NSW.

David Lyall, a public service medallist who is currently NSW President and National Councillor of the Australian Institute of Building and a member of the Recreational Vessels Advisory Group.

Brett Moore, who has had a distinguished career with NSW Maritime, retiring last year from the position of general manager of the Recreational Boating and Regional Services Division.

Malcolm Poole, who is Chair of the Recreational Fishing Alliance of NSW Inc and a member of the Estuary Prawn Trawl Management Advisory Committee and the Recreational Fishing Saltwater Trust Expenditure Committee.

Jeff Richards, who is the president of the Boat Owners' Association of NSW Inc. and was formerly a representative of the Boat Owners' Association on the Middle Harbour User Group.

Jan Thurgar, the president of the NSW Water Ski Federation and a member of the Recreational Vessels Advisory Group.