Environment

Oyster Cove Marina has been presented with International Clean Marina Level 3 Accreditation – the first marina in Tasmania to achieve this status.

The presentation was held amidst the iconic MyState Australian Wooden Boat Festival that took place on and around Hobart’s historic waterfront from 10-13th February 2017.

The International Clean Marinas environmental program is administered by the Marina Industries Association (MIA) and a Level 3 accreditation requires a solid commitment from participating marinas to environmental best practice. The rigorous process includes a site inspection assessed against a 103-point checklist. The site audit of key operational areas includes inspections of mechanical activities, boat maintenance and storage, fuelling, facility management, workshop, mechanical, shipwright and boat repair, emergency planning and equipment and boater education. A written report with detailed feedback is provided to the marina. Hobart-based Environmental Consultancy, Elgin Associates, was the auditor in the Oyster Cove Marina accreditation.

Oyster Cove Marina’s owner, Phil Boustead said “the achievement of Clean Marina accreditation was another important step in demonstrating Oyster Cove Marina’s commitment to environmental best practice. “As a multi-faceted marina facility it is essential all components are operating both individually and collectively at the highest level of performance. The Clean Marinas program provides us with specific criteria to assess the environmental performance of our marina operations and complements our environmental policies, plans and operations. We see an environmentally pristine Channel as the key to our future success and are committed to implementing business practices that ensure the long-term viability of the marine environment. We sincerely hope that other businesses that operate in the region, and the government, take a similar view.”

John Brand, Marina Manager said, “Oyster Cove is proud to be recognised as the first Clean Marina in Tasmania under the MIA program. Being able to fly the Clean Marina flag is an important signal that we are committed to high environmental standards and will further encourage us to continually improve our operations and environmental performance.”

MIA Director for Tasmania, James Burbury presented the marina with its flag and certificate and said, “This significant achievement is important for the marina industry as Oyster Cove now demonstrates environmental leadership to the wider marina community, not just in Tasmania. We now have 70 marinas across Australia and internationally committed to environmental best practice under this program. The challenge for industry remains to continually increase the number of marinas committed to achieving Clean Marinas status.”

Oyster Cove Marina is committed to providing a safe, enjoyable boating experience for everyone using our facilities above the waterline and a clean home for those living below it. Oyster Cove Marina takes a proactive approach to protecting the environment that includes initiatives such as:

• Maintaining our classification by the International Marina Industry Association (MIA) as a Level 3 Clean Marina and Fish Friendly Marina

• Creating a workplace culture where employees strive for better environmental outcomes.

• Educating clients and tenants in environmental initiatives and sharing results and information

• Adopting a program for Sustainability and minimising environmental impacts through waste reduction, recycling and reduction of pollutants. We are committed to the elimination of single use plastics.

If you have any suggestions, complaints, or wish to report any environmental concerns such as noise issues or water contamination please contact the office on 62674418 between 8.30 and 4.30 weekdays.

Oyster Cove Marina provides valuable support to recreational boating by providing the infrastructure for repairing and maintaining vessels, and other services to the boating community. We pride ourselves in fostering a positive relationship with local residents.

Oyster Cove Marina seeks to ensure that it can contribute to a high quality of life by protecting and enhancing the environment and by supporting the concept of environmentally sustainable practices.

We are fully committed to improving Environmental Management across all of our operational activities and will encourage all Marina Users along with the wider community to join us in this effort.

We will strive to:

• Adopt the highest environmental standards and assess our activities regularly.

• Reduce impact on air, land and water in a process of continuous improvement.

• Reduce toxic chemical use in the boatyard and on gardens and landscaping.

• Avoid and minimise waste and encourage the conservation, re- use and appropriate recycling of resources.

• Educate Marina Users in appropriate, effective and responsible environmental practice and encourage their involvement in our environmental action policies.

• Apply principles of risk management in order to pre-empt rather than respond to environmental problems.

• Always apply the “precautionary principle”. Reduce risks from environmental, health or safety hazards for Marina Users.

• Include environmental and ethical considerations in investment decisions.

• Publicise our environmental position.

We all have a role to play in reducing the impact on the environment. You can help in a number of ways:

• Responsibility: All Marina Users are expected to act in an environmentally responsible and safe manner and to cooperate with the Marina Staff.

• Pollution: It is the responsibility of the Marina User to comply with all of the relevant environmental laws and to recognise that all forms of pollution and contamination (including noise pollution) are prohibited in the Marina.

• Noise: The Marina User shall not cause or permit any undue noise or disturbance to emanate from their Vessel. Only activities which can be carried out within acceptable noise level can be conducted. These levels shall not exceed levels detailed by Kingborough Coucil.

• Sewage: The discharge of sewage from Vessel holding tanks into the Marina toilets is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. Marina Users are reminded that the discharging of untreated sewage in enclosed waters in Tasmania is illegal. Ideally, sewage will be kept on your boat and disposed of on land. The nearest pump out facility is at Margate Marina. Discharging at sea should be a last resort. Follow this link to the EPA discharge map.

• In-Water Hull Cleaning, or any process that could remove antifouling paint from the Vessel's hull, is prohibited.

• Fumes and Odours. Be aware of fumes and odours generated by Vessels and avoid the creation of fumes or odours.

• Clean and Tidy. All Marina Users must keep the Premises in a clean and tidy condition.

• Visual. Please, avoid excessive lighting. No laundry or clothing shall be hung on or from the Vessel. Do not forget to apply brakes to wind generators.

• Waste. Disposal of any waste matter into the marine environment is strictly prohibited at all times. At no stage can any materials or substance be allowed to enter the marine environment. Overboard Dumping of any debris is not permitted. Works which allows debris to drop into the water are not permitted. Washing Down of materials generated from maintenance or repairs into the water is strictly prohibited. Recycle and waste bins are located throughout the Marina.

• Bilge Water and other toxic wastes are not to be discharged into the marine environment.

• Harmful Waste. All harmful wastes (like oil, oily waters and products, noxious liquids, drained oil filters, scrap metal including anodes, batteries, acids), and all other harmful waste must be removed directly from the Vessel to the approved storage facility. No such liquids are to be placed down the sewer. Please take your fish waste offsite and do not dispose of in marina waste bins.

• Washing of Vessels. Vessels should be washed by hand with a hose. Care is to be taken to minimise the amount of run off. Pressure Washing is to be carried out on the Travelift only.

• Pets, Wastage. Please clean up your pet’s wastage immediately. Dog-tidy bag dispensers are located throughout the Marina.

• Vessel Related Pollution. All costs incurred in cleaning up spillages and in relation to any pollution are recoverable from the Vessel Owner.

• Swimming. Swimming is not permitted in the Marina.

• Fishing. We are a Fish Friendly Marina and fishing is strictly prohibited anywhere in the Marina environs.

OCM commit to the concept that the world’s oceans, rivers and lakes are the cradle of life as we know it and accept that is our collective responsibility as custodians at this time to protect the maritime environment as our highest priority.

OCM understands that if we allow the pollution of our marine environment, we will contribute to the destruction of the biodiversity that allows the global environment to function. Our Industry relies on having clean waterways and a pristine marine environment for our customers and stakeholders to enjoy.

We are committed to reduce and eventually eliminate the use of single use plastics in our marina and understand that we need to proactively address the single use of plastics in our supply chain.

We are committed to reducing waste and reducing our carbon footprint on the environment.

We are committed to providing community leadership to eliminate single use plastics at the Marina by 2025 through education and information leading to changed individual and business practices and recycling.

This OCM policy is driven by our commitment to ensure current and future generation’s enjoyment of what that which underpins our industry – a pristine maritime environment.