Airlie Beach will be “safer for all waterway users” according to Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) after the announcement of a new six-knot speed limit for the area.
Maritime Safety Queensland General Manager Kell Dillon said the introduction of the reduced speed limit was an effort to improve safety, a decision which “received strong public support.”
"The waters around Airlie Beach are busy and often congested with recreational and commercial craft of many kinds, including tourism and live-aboard vessels, as well as swimmers and passive craft," Mr Dillon said.
"While a speed limit of six knots already applied in the two marinas and their lead entrances, there had been many minor collisions and near-miss incidents around the nearby mooring grids.
"MSQ had also received many complaints from owners of moored and anchored craft about motorised craft endangering their safety by passing too close at excessive speed.
"MSQ considered it was only a matter of time before a serious incident occurred.”
Mr Dillon said MSQ had conducted extensive public consultation over six months on options to improve safety.
He said this outcome provides clarity for the local and visiting boating communities.
“[This change is] easier to enforce and will reduce the potential for collisions between vessels and damage or injuries caused by vessel wash," he said.
MSQ estimates that extending the six-knot speed limit into the mooring zones will mean, at most, four minutes of extra time.
"An extra four minutes, when weighed against the likely safety benefits, is a compromise any responsible skipper would support,” Mr Dillon said.
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