Environment
‘Georges Bay Trust’
MEDIA RELEASE – JIM PLAYSTED
“The concept of a ‘Georges Bay Trust’ which is managed by local stakeholders and appropriate authority with an annual income from a variety of sources including Local, State and federal Government could be a superior model to provide for ongoing and regular maintenance which will provide the safe and reliable access to the port which will encourage commercial operators back to the port.
A motion was carried requesting Jim Playsted to write to State Minister for Infrastructure Graeme Sturges requesting that the State Government investigate the feasibility of the establishment of a Georges Bay Trust as a long term solution to the problems of port access. Jim will provide a similar briefing for the Liberal Party.
MEDIA RELEASE – JIM PLAYSTED
STATE LIBERAL CANDIDATE FOR LYONS
THURSDAY 13TH AUGUST 2009
FOOTAGE OF PUBLIC OPINION – GEORGES BAY TRUST PROPOSAL
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The first step to providing a long-term solution for safe access to the St Helens Bar way took place yesterday at a public meeting in St Helens.
Convener of the meeting and State Liberal Candidate for Lyons Jim Playsted said the meeting was attended by fishing industry, charter operators, tourism, police, coast guard and council representatives.
“St Helens is regularly beset with the problem of access to its port and this has put the local economy at serious risk,” Jim Playsted said.
While many commercial and pleasure craft have increased in size and number over recent years, port traffic at St Helens has halved in the same period due to uncertainty over the barway and Pelican Point areas of access to the bay.
“Safe access to the port is vital for local business investment and job security, concern about reliable and safe port access is a major disincentive for mariners and industry alike.
Councillor McGiveron with responsibility for the barway chaired proceedings and Jim Playsted described his proposal for establishment of a Georges Bay Trust to manage on going maintenance to ensure safe and reliable access to St Helens port.
“Generally there is constant wrangling between various agencies and governments and long periods of delay occur while nothing much is done. At present problems with the barway are dealt with in a crisis management fashion which has lead to a significant loss of fish processing jobs, charter business and port services income for the local economy.”
“The concept of a ‘Georges Bay Trust’ which is managed by local stakeholders and appropriate authority with an annual income from a variety of sources including Local, State and federal Government could be a superior model to provide for ongoing and regular maintenance which will provide the safe and reliable access to the port which will encourage commercial operators back to the port.
A motion was carried requesting Jim Playsted to write to State Minister for Infrastructure Graeme Sturges requesting that the State Government investigate the feasibility of the establishment of a Georges Bay Trust as a long term solution to the problems of port access. Jim will provide a similar briefing for the Liberal Party.
“Shadow Minister for Infrastructure Jeremy Rockliff and Liberal Member for Lyons Rene Hidding are supportive of further discussion of its possibilities.”