No Anchoring Off Narrabeen & Clovelly Beaches

[mrmoshe]

Hmmm. seems that there is yet another restriction coming for boaties.

It now looks like it's going to be illegal to drop an anchor off Narrabeen Beach and Clovelly/Tamarama Beaches.

This latest retriction is from The Australian Communications and Media Authority

and is to protect the undersea cables which come ashore at Narrabeen and down South at Clovelly.

The proposed restriction will extend to 40 nautical miles to sea. Yikes.

Here is the press release from ACMC on the proposal:

:Pc=PC_100695" target="_blank">http://www.acma.gov.au/ACMAINTER.131352:ST...D::Pc=PC_100695</a>

See map of where the proposed restrictions will extend:

http://www.acma.gov.au/acmainterwr/_assets...ion%20zones.pdf

Here is the story in today's Manly Daily..

Pete.

___________________________________

Ban would sink business

John Morcombe

30Aug06

TWO Manly ferries scuttled off Narrabeen could be off-limits to divers and local dive operators could be put out of business under a proposal to ban boats anchoring in a huge zone off Narrabeen Beach.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority is proposing to ban anchoring within 2km of the Southern Cross Cable and the Australia Japan Cable, both of which come ashore at Narrabeen. The idea is to protect the cables which carry international voice and data traffic.

The banned area extends east from Narrabeen Beach for 40 nautical miles (75km) but allows for a small area around the wreck of the Duckenfield, which sank off Narrabeen in 1889, in which anchors can be dropped.

But critics of the proposal say the authority is ignorant of the existence of the ships' graveyard further off Narrabeen Beach, where about 12 vessels of various types have been scuttled to form an artificial reef.

Two of the scuttled vessels are the former Manly ferries, Dee Why and Bellubera, which were scuttled in 1976 and 1980, respectively.

A former minesweeper, a linseed oil tanker, a dredge and a tug were also scuttled to form the artificial reef. Access to popular fishing and diving spots off Long Reef would also be affected.

Southern Cross Divers owner Barry Hallett said his business at The Spit would be ``decimated'' if the proposed ban proceeds.

``It will stop us diving there,'' he said.

``I specialise in deep diving, which is deeper than the recreational depth of 40m, and this ban would decimate my business.

``The ships' graveyard is slap-bang in the middle of the proposed exclusion zone and it's where most of my business is conducted.

``It's just not viable for us.''

Pro Dive training manager John Shaw said the proposed ban would effect the operations of the Manly business for which he works.

``It will not only affect the business but also the safety of it,'' he said.

``Normally we drop an anchor off Long Reef and the divers use it as a point of reference or they follow the line to the bottom.

``When divers have to decompress, they normally hang on to the anchor line.

``What is proposed is overkill.''

Dive operators hope to meet Australian Communications and Media Authority officers to discuss and submit objections, which must be received by the authority by November 10.

Edited August 30, 2006 by MallacootaPete