- A new Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) Marine Officer has been appointed to bolster MSQ's on-water presence to assist with marine safety in Pumicestone Passage.
- The MSQ Marine Officer will boost MSQ's safety patrols in the Northern section of Pumicestone passage to focus on compliance and education of boating's 'fatal five' behaviours in this busy boating location.
- The most important of the boating 'fatal five' is wearing a lifejacket. It's compulsory to wear a lifejacket while crossing designated coastal bars in open boats under 4.8m and is strongly encouraged at other times for all vessels.
- MSQ also continues to monitor the changing conditions of the Caloundra and Bribie Island breakthrough coastal bar and passage.
Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) has moved to boost education and compliance of the Caloundra and Pumicestone Passage areas by appointing a new locally-based Marine Officer.
The Marine Officer will primarily conduct education and enforcement activities relating to boating's 'fatal five' - failure to carry proper safety equipment such as lifejackets, speeding, failure to keep a proper lookout, alcohol and drug use and poor trip planning.
The MSQ Marine Officer's duties will also include marine pollution inspections, investigating marine incidents, maintaining navigational aids and signage, managing buoy moorings, anchoring and vessel liveaboard management, supporting hydrographic surveys and respond to complaints.
The officer commenced duty in mid-October and can be contacted through MSQ's Sunshine Coast Office based at Mooloolaba (phone (07) 5373 2310 during office hours or (07) 3623 3900 (after hours).
Meanwhile, MSQ continues to monitor the changing conditions of the waterways to ensure safe navigation and access to and from the sea to the main Pumicestone Passage.
Notices to mariners are issued to ensure boaties are alerted about changes or hazards in the passage, which can be found on https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/boating/notices.
Quotes attributable to the Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey:
"I am very pleased that Maritime Safety Queensland now has a dedicated Marine Officer in Pumicestone passage to look after safety on this very popular area of the Sunshine Coast.
"The Pumicestone Passage attracts a great many people who enjoy its waters for boating, for swimming or fishing, or simply to live beside and appreciate its natural beauty.
"In recent times, due to both its popularity and the dynamic and changing conditions at its northern end after the storm-induced breakthrough in 2022, ensuring safety on its waters has become more challenging.
"MSQ has responded to the challenge by appointing an additional dedicated Marine officer, who will boost MSQ's presence on the waters of Pumicestone passage. The MSQ Marine Officer will be supported in combating boating's 'fatal five', when necessary, by MSQ's specialist Maritime Enforcement Team.
"MSQ also wants to remind mariners that conditions in the passage remain dynamic after last year's breakthrough.
"They should take care in this area and check MSQ's Notice to Mariners for the latest information on hazards, waterway depths and shoaling.
"MSQ also has a checklist for crossing coastal bars to offer guidance to boaties on the Pumicestone Passage."
Quote attributable to Member for Caloundra Jason Hunt:
"We love the Pumicestone Passage here in Caloundra and I'm very excited to see MSQ establish a dedicated Marine Officer to ensure we can all enjoy the passage safely and responsibly."
