Moorings


The days when it was possible to pick a secluded spot in the Swan or Canning River, drop a train wheel on the bottom and moor your boat to it have passed. There is now so much demand for a share of these sheltered waters, for all kinds of aquatic activity, that moorings have had to be strictly regulated.

Mangles Bay
On the 17 August 2007 the Department placed a moratorium on unauthorised moorings in Mangles Bay. The purpose of this moratorium was to control the installation of moorings and to audit existing mooring sites. Members of the public who had a mooring site in this location were requested to register their mooring within three weeks.

If your mooring is currently registered in Mangles Bay, you will be receiving a letter, requesting you to verify your existing details. When completing this form please ensure that you write the mooring tag number that was allocated to your mooring (see example below) clearly on the form.

NOTE: It is important that you respond by the due date noted in your letter. For your convenience a return self-addressed envelope has been included with your letter and Mooring Owner Details form.

Once this information has been collated it will enable the Department to determine how many additional mooring sites can be safely allocated in the future.

Although the moratorium was widely publicised, the Department is aware that people are still continuing to place unauthorised moorings in Mangles Bay.

Under the Shipping and Pilotage (Mooring Control Areas) Regulations 1983 the Department has the authority to remove any illegal moorings at the owner's expense and the owner may be issued with an infringement. If you have illegally placed a mooring in Mangles Bay, you will need to remove it and complete an Expression of Interest form (download the form) for waitlisting.

If you do not currently have a mooring site registered in Mangles Bay but are interested in obtaining one, you may register your interest by either downloading the Expression of Interest form (download the form) and returning it to the Department at PO Box 402 FREMANTLE WA 6959 attention to: Moorings Officer Level 3, or call 9216 8966 and one will be posted to you. When your application has been fully completed and returned, your details will be added to the Mooring Waitlist Register for the Mangles Bay area.

Swan and Canning River moorings
The days when it was possible to pick a secluded spot in the Swan or Canning River, drop a train wheel on the bottom and moor your boat to it have passed. There is now so much demand for a share of these sheltered waters, for all kinds of aquatic activity, that moorings have had to be strictly regulated.

Applying for a new mooring site

Only a person who can prove ownership of a boat can apply for a mooring site licence. That boat will be the principal vessel for the mooring, and only that boat and other vessels registered with the Department as secondary vessels, will be allowed to use the mooring. These secondary vessels must be no longer than the principal vessel.

An approved contractor will make the process easier and faster. It is simply a matter of you selecting the gazetted mooring area you want, and the mooring contractor will do the rest. The contractor will find a space with enough swinging room for your boat, establish its position with differential GPS, and seek approval on your behalf from the Department for the site.

If the Department grants the application, the contractor will then design and lay a suitable mooring as well as attach the mooring buoy supplied by the Department.
You can make the application yourself, but the Department will accept only position details obtained by differential GPS.

Varying the mooring's use
If you wish to add secondary vessels to the list of the mooring's users, or wish to put a longer boat on the mooring, then you must contact the Department. The mooring will have to be re-inspected to ensure safe swinging room for the longer vessel.

Maintenance
Moorings can deteriorate very quickly through corrosion and abrasion and severe weather can move them out of position. Mooring licence holders are obliged to maintain their moorings in the DGPS obtained position. The Department strongly recommends the following:

Use an approved mooring contractor;
Use only quality equipment; and
Service and inspect annually.



Moorings


✆ 08) 9216 8000
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