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Governor Hochul Announces July 4th Fireworks Spectacular at Jones Beach

Ten years on since Purbeck Isle tragedy - remembrance to fisherman to be held at memorial

ON THE ten-year anniversary of a tragic fishing boat accident which rocked the community, a family is asking people to gather at a memorial bench in…

Governor Cuomo Announces Return of Fourth of July Fireworks to Empire State Plaza and Jones Beach

$12k per boat: removing the derelict vessels of Cooloola

The interactive map of the Cooloola Coast shows the location of all the derelict vessels in the region. Another four derelicts vessels in the inlet have yet to be removed, and six more have been identifed as possible risks. Boaties are glad to see the back of them, but it comes at a cost. Noosa Commercial Boatman's Association spokesman Craig McGovern welcomed Maritime Safety Queensland's four-year, $20 million War on Wrecks program. He told News Corp, "abandoned, unsightly and unsafe houseboats have been a bone of contention... for decades". "They're a danger and they're polluting the river and they end up getting vandalised and the tinny rats get on them and make it worse," Mr McGovern said.

$12k PER BOAT: The derelict vessels costing taxpayers

Using $8.1 million of the allocated funding, this equates to $11,756 per boat retrieved. But it was "money well spent" as far as Mr McGovern was concerned. "We welcome any initiative that adds to the environmental and visual improvement of the river," he said. The Boatman's Association spokesman added it wouldn't be such a cost to taxpayers if owners took responsibility for their derelict vessels. "It's a shame the government has to do it," Mr McGovern said. "We know they are working with a few of the owners, unfortunately it is a slow process." Maritime Safety Queensland advised it was the vessel owner's responsibility to maintain their vessels to the necessary standard or appropriately dispose of them.