Manly home to Australia’s first Clean Marina harbour

15 March 2006

Manly Boat Harbour, in Brisbane’s bayside, has become Australia’s first Clean Marina harbour with all marinas having recently received national environmental accreditation from Clean Marinas Australia, a division of the Marina Association of Australia.

East Coast Marina was the first of the Manly marinas to receive accreditation. The Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, Moreton Bay Trailer Boat Club, Wynnum Manly Yacht Club Marina, and the WM Gunn Marina (managed by the Port of Brisbane Corporation) have since followed suit and now all are proudly flying their Clean Marina flags.
 
Manly’s Clean Marina status is an Australian first and is yet another success story for the Harbour, the largest recreational harbour on the eastern seaboard.

Only 12 other marinas in Australia, including one other in Queensland, have gained Clean Marina status since the Clean Marinas-Australia Programme, was introduced in 2004.

The national, voluntary accreditation system for marinas, yacht clubs, boat clubs, slips, boatyards and associated industry operators across Australia was developed to support marine industries in their endeavours to protect our coastal and inland waterways.  

To achieve accreditation operators are required to review their operational guidelines for environmental management and demonstrate that they have made a serious commitment to maintaining sound environmental practices. This includes processes for sewage pumpouts, hull cleaning, turbidity, emissions, management of wastewater and accidental spills, staff training, and education of boat enthusiasts.