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Gippsland East boat owners encounter difficulties disposing of expired marine flares designated disposal points are generally closed

Safe Transport Victoria's oversight and inconvenient disposal choices present safety risks, emphasising the need for swift government intervention.

By news@gippsland - 26th December 2023 - Back to News

Local boat users, mandated to carry marine flares on their recreational vessels, are encountering difficulties disposing of out of date stock. Nationals State MP for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, highlighted issues faced by boat owners. When heading offshore, they are required to have two orange smoke flares, two incandescent red flares, and two parachute flares on board.

Without a convenient disposal method for expired marine flares, mariners resort to unsafe practices, an embarrassing oversight by Safe Transport Victoria misleads them with outdated event information

Flare replacement challenge

Mr Bull said, "Flares typically have a lifespan of about three years, requiring regular replacement to ensure compliance and avoid fines. With approximately 194,000 registered boats in Victoria, a substantial number of flares need replacement every three years and old stock must be appropriately disposed of."

Mr Bull pointed out that although Gippsland Water Police station serves as the designated flare disposal point locally, it is often unmanned due to operational commitments focused on patrolling waterways for public safety. "The challenge we confront is that if mariners lack a convenient method to dispose of their outdated flares safely, they resort to unsafe disposal practices."

Transport Victoria oversight

In an embarrassing oversight by Safe Transport Victoria (STV), a one-off flare collection event, held two years ago, remained advertised on its website, misleading mariners that there were planned disposal days for the upcoming summer.

Mr Bull said, "STV has indicated that the closest location for East Gippsland residents to conveniently drop off unwanted pyrotechnic devices is Sale Police Station, which entails a two-and-a-half-hour round trip from Lakes Entrance to Sale."

"This discourages responsible disposal and may lead to increased instances of marine flares lighting up the night sky this New Year's Eve. I am urging the Allan Labor government to provide accessible solutions for the public to comply with regulations and safely dispose of these potentially hazardous goods," he added.

Pictures from Tim Bull MP website.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com