Labrador tinnies: Fight not over says boat owner

A boat owner who narrowly escaped having his vessel impounded by council yesterday says the fight for Labrador’s “iconic” foreshore tinnies is not over as protest signs are erected in the area.

THE fight for Labrador’s “iconic” foreshore tinnies is not over, says the boat owner who narrowly escaped having his vessel impounded by the Gold Coast City Council yesterday.

Wayne Hayes said was alerted by neighbours that tow trucks with vessels on the deck appeared to be making their way from Biggera Waters to Labrador.

So he raced to the water’s edge and anchored his boat beneath the low tide mark, where council has no authority. He was one of three boaties to do this.

“They (council officers) swept through quite quickly, and didn’t look at us. They came along in tow trucks and came through with a big set of bolt cutters and cut the chains that the tinnies and other vessels were moored to,” he said.

Gold Coast City Council has removed non-compliant tinnies on the foreshore at Labrador. Picture: Jerad Williams

“I wish I knew the owner of one of the skis. I saw him on the water yesterday, but that was taken away by council, as were other tinnies that are either owned by out of towners or are actually abandoned.

“But now it’s almost more of an eyesore and trip hazard because they left the big chains and locks there. They only removed the boats. They didn’t even bother to clean up after themselves.”

Tinnie owners were given removal stickers in May after the council said it received complaints vessels were “being left unlawfully” between Quota Park at Biggera Waters and Len Fox Park, Labrador.

For decades up to 50 boats have lined the foreshore, but the majority have been removed in recent weeks, with only about half-a-dozen tinnies, kayaks and skis left.

Wayne Hayes’ vessel paints a lonely picture after Gold Coast City Council removed some of the non compliant iconic tinnies that line the foreshore at Labrador. Picture: Jerad Williams.

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Mr Hayes said the tinnies had the overwhelming support of nearly 1000 locals, who signed a petition he helped organise with State Member for Bonny Sam O’Connor. It asked that the boats remain on the foreshore until officers found a way they could remain in a compliant manner.

Following the removal of the tinnies, ‘RIP’ signs were erected in the area.

Division 7 Cr Bayldon-Lumsden acknowledged the petition but said an elected representative could not grant an exemption to any law and the boats had to be removed.

“Councillors operate within a governance role not an operational one. The CEO of the council is responsible for all operational matters,” he said.

Labrador locals after trucks removed iconic tinnies from the foreshore. Picture: Jerad Williams.

“The boats do add character but are not compliant and that’s why I put a motion in to council to find a long-term compliance solution. I’ve made a few suggestions to offers such as bollards or racks, as have been suggested to me by local constituents.”

The report will outline “the potential options for the future management of watercraft on the Labrador foreshore”.

Mr Hayes said regardless of the standing of the petition, he got nearly 1000 signatures of support “by doing nothing” in just two days.

Protest signs in Labrador after the removal by council of tinnies yesterday.

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“Imagine if I stayed a week I might have got 5000, maybe even 10,000 if I’d gone into a shopping centre,” he said.

“I truly hope that Ryan’s got our back with this in council and is moving this forward as a priority. The fight’s not over.”

Council confirmed 22 unlawfully stored vessels were removed, would be held in secure storage in Pimpama and could be collected upon proof of ownership and payment of fees. Any uncollected craft may be auctioned by council.