Geehi Dam closed to boating

29/4/03: Boaters of remote dams in the Snowy Mountains are being warned to heed navigation advice on the road and the water. The recent bushfires have left some roads damaged and prone to falling trees.

In local dams, the low water levels combined with the fallen trees have seen an increase in boating hazards. Waterways Boating Service Officer, Bruce Ray reminded boaters of the need to keep a proper lookout and heed safety advice.

“Boaters travelling to dams, lakes and rivers in the Snowy Mountains should keep a proper lookout for floating or submerged logs,” Mr Ray Said.

“It is particularly important that boaters travelling to dams do not attempt to enter roads that have been closed such as the Geehi Dam Rd.”

In the interest of public safety the Geehi Dam Rd has been closed till October, effectively closing the Geehi Dam to boating activity.

Aerial Survey Underway for Harbour

“This footage will provide a visual interpretation of the harbour indicating the position and state of moorings, jetties, wharves and foreshore structures,” he said.

“Filming at low tide will reduce shadowing and allow Waterways to see the full extent of structures.

“This visual audit will aid in the removal of clutter and any illegal structures from Sydney Harbour and help in the program to open the foreshores up to greater public access and the shared use of facilities.

“The digital imagery will also be used to assess applications for maritime developments such as slipways, boat ramps, jetties, boat sheds and other foreshore facilities.”

Mr Taylor said the helicopter will film from the Parramatta River through to Sydney Harbour, maintaining an average altitude of 500 feet and keep 200 metres from the foreshore.

“A digital survey of Sydney Harbour has never been done before and this new approach will offer efficiencies in the management of structures along the foreshores,” he said.

“If the trial of this technology is successful, the filming of the Harbour foreshores may be conducted annually.”

The Waterways Authority owns the bed of Sydney Harbour up to the mean high water mark. The Authority manages around 2000 property leases that extend over this wetland.

The aerial survey is being conducted with full CASA approval. For further information please call the Waterways Info Line 13 12 56. A second flight will be held tomorrow, weather permitting.

Rowers Need to Light Up

The Authority’s Sydney Manager, Trevor Williams, said a recent incident at The Spit had highlighted the need for rowers and their support craft to show correct lights during training sessions.

“No one was injured in the incident but it does highlight the need for all craft to show lights between sunset and sunrise,” he said. “Because rowers train in low light, it is imperative that navigation lights are shown on their craft to allow other people on the Harbour to identify them.”

Mr Williams said Sydney Harbour is a busy waterway with hundreds of commercial vessels and thousands of recreational craft, and rowing is one part of this rich character.

“The Waterways Authority had been working with rowing clubs and groups for more than four years to improve the visibility of the low-profile rowing sculls. Most rowing clubs and schools appreciate the need for their scullers to be visible and we have encouraged the use of special lighting equipment when training.

“We have even worked with rowers to trial a reflective sash, a bit like those worn by cyclists, to assist in identifying the rowing crews.

“A significant improvement in rowers’ safety has followed the introduction of a Code of Conduct. The Code was produced with the assistance of NSW Rowing Association for rowing and sculling shells over four metres in length.”

To assist rowers and other paddlers of craft such as canoes, dragonboats and kayaks, the Waterways Authority promotes the following:

• Speed and/or ‘wash’ restrictions to control powercraft in Rozelle and Blackwattle Bays, Iron Cove, Lane Cove River and the Nepean River;
• The clearing of navigation obstructions each morning by the Waterways Environmental Services fleet of Harbour cleaning boats;
• Regular meetings with the NSW Rowing Association to identify and resolve issues; and
• A Code of Conduct introduced in 2002 outlining additional light requirements for rowing and sculling shells over four metres in length.
  

In order to avoid conflicts with other Harbour traffic, Waterways recommends the following as most suitable for rowing: Iron Cove; Hen & Chicken Bay; Lane Cove River; Killarney (Middle Harbour); Duck Creek and Penrith Lakes.