Ports Minister Tripodi - Progress Report

2:16 AM Fri 31 Jul 2009 GMT

'Ports and Waterways Minister, Joe Tripodi.' Kate Sullivan

NSW Ports and Waterways Minister Joe Tripodi is generally regarded as an effective Minister who is delivering for the boating community. Here is his speech from the 2009 Sydney International Boat Show this morning in full.

Since last year's Sydney International Boat Show, a lot has changed across Australia and the world.

In the past 12 months, world trade circumstances have required governments globally to actively support economies to a level not seen before.

But recent assessments of the Australian economy do offer cautious optimism and whilst the economy is still facing challenges, consumers are spending around 6 per cent more than they did last September and some key boating statistics have shown positive growth and give reason for optimism.

NSW boating figures for example, should be some source of encouragement. There are 222,322 registered boat owners in NSW which is up 2.4 per cent on the previous year; and there are 483,649 powerboat driver licence holders - an increase of more than 7 per cent for the financial year.

Both are good figures for these tough times.

With four more days for this iconic Show to run and close to 200 boats on the marina, and 25,000 square metres of space in the halls sold out, I am hopeful for your industry that most of that stock and inventory out there in the Halls and on the Marina walks out the door.

The NSW Government has been very focused on making up lost ground against the other States when it comes to boating and this has involved us building a stronger and better relationship with your industry.

We have made it very clear, where we think we rest with you, through our Department's new logo.

NSW Maritime Serving our Boating Community

Safe Waterways and Support for the Maritime Community
Our stakeholder forums in both 2007 and 2008 confirmed the biggest issues for our boating communities are safety, waterfront access and infrastructure.

Strangely enough, one of the things both forums clearly wanted from our Government was more patrolling and law enforcement on the waterways by NSW Maritime.

In response to this and as a clear and comprehensive response to recent boating fatalities on Sydney Harbour, NSW Maritime has doubled its night patrols, and increased its vessels inspections by 20% from 2,830 to 3,406, in the last 12 months

Directly resulting from this, compliance with lighting regulations is now at 98%, while general boating safety compliance is at around 88% across the State.

Communicating safety messages and educating our skippers has also been a priority of the Government.

Maritime's commitment to the 'You're the Skipper - You're Responsible' campaign continues, while focusing on four key safety priorities :

* lifejackets;
* keeping blood alcohol under the 0.05 limit;
* safe navigation; and
* trip preparation and planning.

Partnering has become an important part of how we have improved relations with the boating community and how we have delivered our safety message.

Good results are being achieved through concerted partnerships like the one here at the show today with a Marine Precinct in Hall 5, bringing together 15 partners in safety, including the Boating Industry Association, the Boat Owner's Association and the Marine Teachers Associations of NSW to name just a few.

The NSW Government fully endorses Doug Olding's recent statements promoting 'education before regulation.'

Recreational boating is about fun and with a little awareness and good compliance we can avoid draconian rules with punitive penalties.

Of course rules are not always avoidable and when we introduce new rules we do it in a way that minimises the burden and inconvenience to those involved.

A good example of this was the recent introduction of a practical component to the driver licensing system that started on the 1st of June this year.

The practical component of licensing tests completes a major package of changes to boat licensing over recent years.

It raises the bar regarding skipper knowledge and skill, while giving prospective boaters choice and flexibility in how to meet the new requirements.

Making recreational water activity a safe activity will mean boating will continue its envious rate of take-up in NSW, particularly amongst families with kids.

But safety is not only about the boaters.

Workers in the industry also need to be safe in their workplace, which is why today's launch of a partnership agreement between WorkCover and the BIA NSW is a great example of how government and industry partner to achieve workplace safety.

This Partnership Agreement will involve a series of constructive and open network forums for communication and workplace consultation; and practical, effective approaches to improving safety outcomes for the industry's workforce.
At last year's breakfast I detailed the plan of the NSW Government to convince the Commonwealth on the merits of sponsoring better National Standards for Commercial Vessels.

On this point we are getting slow but important progress.

Having state-based commercial boat building design and operating standards will guarantee the boat building industry will rarely grow beyond a cottage industry in this country.

State-based standards keep the resale price of commercial vessels low as these boats cannot trade or be traded across State borders without incurring substantial retrofit and compliance costs.

It is regulatory madness when every State thinks it knows something more than the neighbouring State when it comes safe commercial boat design.

This is especially the case when there are already two international standards existing for us to adopt from.

I can now report the Council of Australian Governments has agreed to implement a single national system for maritime safety.

This will be done by broadening the Commonwealth Navigation Act to apply to all commercial vessels and with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) becoming the national safety regulator for all commercial shipping in Australian waters under the new system.

The transition period for the national system is expected to commence in 2011, with full implementation in 2013.

The proposal has the potential to deliver real benefits to the commercial vessel industry, creating an expanded market for boat builders, simplifying the movement of crew between vessels and the movement of vessels between jurisdictions.

Some of you may be aware one of my roles is to be the Minister for Regulatory Reform.

That is all about keeping red-tape under control.

Today I am launching a pilot scheme to appoint appropriately qualified private surveyors to conduct periodic surveys of houseboats and other low risk Class 4E hire and drive commercial vessels used on smooth waters.

The new arrangements will be implemented in August.

NSW Maritime will continue to conduct all initial survey inspections and periodic survey inspections of all vessels, other than Class 4E vessels.

Appropriately qualified private surveyors will be engaged under a service provider arrangement and there will be no change to survey fees paid by vessel operators as a result of the use of private surveyors.

In addition, issue of qualifications for General Purpose Hands - the entry level position into the industry - can now be done over the counter at our offices around the State.

These are the latest in a series of changes in the administration of commercial vessels and qualifications that will make it easier to do business in NSW.

At both our 2007 and 2008 industry stakeholder meetings, another very strong message to Government was a desire for Improved Infrastructure and Access to our Waterways.

Our commuter wharf upgrade program is now well underway and I am pleased to inform you that the Government through its team at NSW Maritime has been thinking outside the square on these projects by introducing some innovation to a wharf upgrade program that normally people would simply expect to happen and hope not to notice.

Following your advice to us that we need to improve access to the waterways the renowned architectural firm Group GSA has been appointed to lead a design process for the first 12 wharves to be upgraded over the next four years.
While the actual designs are still to be agreed, you can see from some of the images behind me that there are some great concepts that will not only improve amenity for ferry commuters, but open up the possibility of interface wharves for boaters at the same time, a theme canvassed at our 2007 stakeholder forum.

We listened to a common sense, simple idea and now, within the design brief, is our clear desire to make broader use of these assets.

While the ferries will always have priority access to deliver their timetabled services, recreational and other commercial uses will be allowed for, and indeed encouraged, through our new design wharf upgrade program.

Better Boating Program

Over the past 12 months we have also consolidated the three boating infrastructure programs, into the one Better Boating Program.

As announced at last year's Boat Show, the funding was increased from 1 July 2009 to $25M over 5 years, an increase of $2 million a year.

In the last decade more than $20 million in Maritime grants have been awarded to 400 boating facility projects statewide of which $3.5 million was offered last financial year to six fully-funded Sydney Harbour boat ramp projects.

Sydney Harbour has been the hardest place to improve boat access with many councils resisting the presence of or improvement in, boat ramp infrastructure and this is why we now offer to fully fund any boat ramp project in Sydney harbour.

Money should be no excuse for councils.

At the Wharf Rd boat ramp in Ermington the first stage of the access road and car/trailer parking has been completed.

Now a contract will be let to widen the boat ramp by an extra lane and provide new pontoon facilities adjacent to the ramp. A contract has also been let for a new pontoon at the Tunks Park boat ramp and new plans for the Northbridge boat ramp are being worked up with the Council.

We are also working with Council to provide additional facilities at the Lynne Park boat ramp in Rose Bay which will improve some of the traffic issues at that site.

I have made this type of free infrastructure my personal priority as this type of improved facilities provides access for 90% of boaters - the 'mums and dads' - that store their boats at home.

The latest round of applications close today.

Now you may not believe this, I certainly do not, but Leichhardt Council has done something good this week, by endorsing in-principle to transfer the Yeend St wharf to the NSW Government for use as a Day Berthing Facility.

While the Council is doing this because it has let the facility run down and will not commit to it financially, the State Government will provide almost $1 million for this day berthing facility for recreational boats.

It will comply with the latest disability access requirements, have a landing for kayaks and other small craft and provide the boating community access to Ballast Point Park for day visits and picnics.

Finally, on the issue of access to our waterways, today the State Government also commits to just over a $1 million to build a heavy-duty loading ramp at the western end of Rozelle Bay.

Now, we all know that boat fuel on Sydney harbour has been a killer and this is why the NSW Government has toughed it out to get Bailey's Marine approved.

The Planning Minister has recently approved the Bailey's Marine Refuelling Facility at White Bay that will include a number of services for the industry not readily available in Sydney Harbour - commercial and recreational vessel refuelling, haul out facilities and a ramp able to accommodate a Ro/Ro barge.

Commercial Marinas

Following on from the Permission to Lodge and Commercial Lease policies in 2007 and 2008 respectively, a range of other measures have followed.

These include a simplification of the commercial lease itself, exemptions from the construction approval requirements to remove red tape and improvements to Maritime engineering standards and division of waterway requirements.

We started the very popular property planning forums for the maritime community every 3-6 months allowing input and discussion on a variety of planning and land management issues.

The final and missing piece of the jigsaw for commercial marinas was a commercial marina rental framework.

The framework is designed to improve consistency in rent-setting and transparency in rental negotiations.

It is also a landmark framework for industry as it encourages and rewards investment.

Commercial marina owners now have a new land owner's consent policy, a new commercial lease policy and now a transparent rental model that gives rental discounts for investment.

There is now no excuse for marina owners not to expand and upgrade their facilities.

I think all of you will agree that our new logo at NSW Maritime has been more than just words.

NSW Maritime has been serving our boating community by continuing to achieve real results, and by being your champion both inside and outside of Government. We are slowly getting NSW back its title as Australia's natural home for boating.

Our recent State Budget detailed the biggest commitment ever to building infrastructure for our State.

Over the next four years the Government will spend $62.9 billion on new and renewed infrastructure to create jobs and stimulate business activity and the maritime industry has not been overlooked in all of this.

Our commitment to sustain the state's boating industry is what I would like to invite the Premier of NSW the Hon. Nathan Rees to talk about today.