Illegal docking causes concerns for safety on Townsville waters

Townsville boaties hold concerns for people’s safety and expensive yachts as a number of vessels they claim are uninsured are moored on public docks during cyclone season.

Boat-owner Wayne George is angry with boats overstaying the 40 minute limit on the public dock on the opposite side of the creek from Flinders Street. There is one particular yacht which is causing hassle. PICTURE: MATT TAYLOR.

TOWNSVILLE boaties hold concerns for people’s safety and expensive yachts as a number of vessels they claim are uninsured are moored on public docks during cyclone season.

Yacht owner Wayne George claimed one vessel had been docked at the Townsville City Council managed pontoons for more than two years when vessels are permitted to stop for no more than 40 minutes.

“I have approached council over a dozen occasions,” he said. “Why aren’t they out there every day giving an infringement? (The docks are) owned by the ratepayers. We pay our taxes and we want it fixed.”

A sailing vessel with no name or registration could be seen moored to the dock in South Townsville.

Boat-owner Wayne George is angry with boats overstaying the 40 minute limit on the public dock on the opposite side of the creek from Flinders Street. There is one particular yacht which is causing hassle (pictured). PICTURE: MATT TAYLOR.

Former charter operator Chris Jones has concerns for other vessels moored nearby in either the Yacht Club marina or Ross Creek docks, should an uninsured boat break loose in rough weather.

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“I’m just concerned it’s during cyclone season. I live on board (a boat) and I need to have insurance. I need to make sure it’s compliant with state and federal laws,” Mr Jones said.

Townsville Yacht Club manager Mark Cruickshank said a number of boats used the docks for longer than the designated time.

He said vessels moored to the docks for days prevented charter operators picking up customers or boat owners loading supplies.

A Townsville City Council spokesman said vessels were permitted to moor at the Ross Creek docks near the Telstra building in South Townsville for 40 minutes in any 12-hour period and warned skippers they could be fined or risk having their boat seized.

“The current penalty is $533. Continued noncompliance with the established rules can result in seizure of the vessel. In 2019, a vessel moored at a council-managed pontoon was seized because of noncompliance with the rules,” the spokesman said.

“If council receives a complaint that a vessel is moored at a pontoon longer than the established rules, then it can issue a compliance notice and such a notice usually results in the vessel being moved.”

The spokesman said the council had not received any complaints about vessels being moored to pontoons in excess of the rules so far this year.

Originally published as Illegal docking causes concerns for safety on Townsville waters