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Best Practice Guideline 10 - Boating and Waterway Use
Introduction
The waterway of Pittwater is an attractive and popular location for boating and other waterway activities. However, some boating activities may damage and disturb the natural environment and affect other waterway users.
The discharge of raw or treated sewage into estuaries such as Pittwater may reduce the water quality both for the aquatic plants and animals that live in the waterway as well as other waterway users such as swimmers and oyster farmers. While the impact of the discharge from a single vessel may seem insignificant, sewage can contain millions of bacteria, viruses and pathogens.
Many other boating activities can also reduce the quality of the water and environment. This includes contamination from un-serviced engines, boat maintenance activities such as painting and sanding, garbage and litter, bilge water, and marine weeds such as Caulerpa taxifolia.
Helpful ways you can help preserve the environment of Pittwater estuary
- Never discharge on-board or portable toilets, treated sewage or holding tanks into the waterway.
- Always discharge holding tanks at a pump-out facility, such as at Quays Marina, located between Church Point and Bayview at the southern end of Pittwater Estuary.
- Install a Holding Tank; for small vessels, this could be a portable camping toilet. Passenger carrying commercial vessels and houseboats are required by law to install holding tanks.
- Never anchor in seagrass beds. Seagrass are important feeding ground and shelter for fish and other animals. In other areas, taking care when you anchor will reduce damage to habitats.
- Travel at reduced speeds to avoid excessive boat wash that may cause bank erosion, disturb sensitive seabed or foreshore environments, and may annoy/endanger fellow waterway users.
- Prevent the spread of the weed Caulerpa taxifolia, by always inspecting all boating, fishing and diving gear before and after use, including anchors, props, ropes, chains, fishing nets and lines, wetsuits and tanks. Weed fragments to be disposed of in a sealed plastic bag and put in the bin.
- Collect all rubbish including cigarette buts on board and dispose of properly once you are ashore.
- Ensure your engines are in good working order
- Take care when filling your petrol tanks to avoid spillage into the water. Wipe spills with a rag but don’t wash them into the waterway.
- Wash your boat in a location where debris and run off can be captured and properly disposed.
- Always conduct repairs such as sanding or scraping in a location where the debris can be captured and disposed of properly. Use a drop sheet underneath your boat to collect waste and sweep and collect debris; do not hose this into the waterway.
- Always use the correct type of paint for boats by check with a marine painting professional
To access the full details of the Best Practice Guidelines click here
Further Information
- Caulerpa Taxifolia – NSW Maritime
- Take charge of your discharge – NSW Maritime
- Don’t make waves – NSW Maritime
- Leave only water in your wake – NSW Maritime
- Noise Annoys – NSW Maritime
- Boat ramp etiquette – NSW Maritime
- Wash your boat – NSW Maritime
- You’re the skipper, you’re responsible – NSW Maritime
- Boating Handbook – NSW Maritime
