Moor and Moor New Public Moorings for the Whitsundays
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) have announced an additional 60 new public moorings have been installed around the Whitsundays, and 40 new reef protection markers installed in order to protect the fringing reef better, provide convenient and sustainable access for boaties and help the area recover after Cyclone Debbie.
Prior to the cyclone, the Whitsundays already had 85 public moorings and 50 reef protection markers around the fringing reef of the islands. Now with a total of 145 public moorings and 90 reef protection markers for use by recreational boat users, bareboat charterers and the tourism industry operators, the reef is in a better position now to recover and regenerate.
Moorings are designed so that anchors don't have to be dropped on the sea floor and reef protection markers guide operators where it is safe to drop an anchor without it landing on coral bommies. The Environmental Management Charge (EMC) that charterers are charged, go towards the upkeep, maintenance and installation of moorings around the Whitsunday islands.
Different coloured moorings allow operators to easily identify the vessel size limit and maximum wind speed allowed for that particular mooring and is in the best interest of the 'captain' and the crew to adhere to these guidelines when picking up moorings for the safety of all on board as well as the protection of the reef. The Zoning Map will also help you understand where you can go and what activities you can undertake in each area of the islands.
If you follow Cumberland Charter Yachts' (Luxury Yachts Whitsundays parent company) 'Reef Protection Practices' while on charter and become a Citizen of the Great Barrier Reef, we can all do our little part in nurturing the Great Barrier Reef.
