The Queensland Government has confirmed it will invest $2.65 million in the production of a new 12-metre vessel for the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.
The boat will replace the QPWS’s ‘CH Thompson,’ which has been in service since 2008.
The yet-to-be-named vessel will be built using composite construction, which significantly reduces the amount of embodied energy to construct (compared to aluminium) and will feature a new Volvo IPS propulsion system that emits lower carbon emissions.
“The new 12m vessel will be used by our marine park rangers to patrol and protect the Great Sandy Marine Park,” said Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef and Minister for Science and Innovation, Leanne Linard.
“It will be an important tool for rangers in ensuring visitors to the marine park are doing the right thing, infrastructure in the park is safe and maintained, and the natural habitat is provided with the protection it deserves.”
Brisbane-based shipbuilders, Norman R. Wright & Sons, will build the new vessel.
The news coincided with the announcement of zoning and management changes, effective from today, aimed at further protecting Queensland’s Great Sandy Marine Park.
The zoning changes include:
- marine national park (green) zones, where fishing and collecting are prohibited, has increased from 3.9% of the park’s total area to 12.8%;
- increased highly protected designated areas such as Go-Slow areas to better protect the area’s threatened marine species such as turtles, dugongs, shorebirds and grey nurse sharks;
- the removal of commercial large mesh gill and ring netting from the yellow conservation park zones within Baffle Creek, Elliott River, Burrum River system, the Great Sandy Strait and Tin Can Inlet.
“The park is home to coral reefs, species of international and national conservation significance such as shorebirds, grey nurse sharks, turtles and dugongs and important seagrass meadows and mangrove communities.
“Our Labor Government made a commitment to increase protections for the marine park so it could be enjoyed for generations to come, and we have delivered on that commitment.
“The changes we are making will help protect the exceptional marine biodiversity while enhancing tourism and recreational fishing in the Wide Bay Burnett Region.”
The Government also announced it will invest in new and enhanced boat ramps and artificial reefs in the region.
For more information visit www.qld.gov.au/greatsandymarinepark.
