FAQs

There are currently 16 mooring zones.

The current mooring zones are:

North Fremantle, Leeuwin, Oyster Beds, East Fremantle, Blackwall Reach, Mosman Bay – South, Mosman Bay – North, Peppermint Grove, Claremont, Dalkeith, Nedlands, Matilda Bay, Maylands, Canning Bridge to South of Perth Yacht Club, Canning Bridge to Deepwater Point and Bull Creek.

Claremont, Peppermint Grove, Mosman Bay North, Mosman Bay South mooring zones will be expanded. However, the Matilda Bay mooring zone will become two separate areas, reducing its overall footprint. Maps showing the proposed changes will be available on the consultation portal to assist.

As part of the METRONET on Swan ferry service expansion, the Matilda Bay mooring zone will become two separate areas, reducing the total footprint. As a result, 34 moorings need to be removed and relocated elsewhere. These mooring licensees have been contacted. DTMI is working with the affected licensees to provide alternative locations and limit their disruption during this process.

Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure (DTMI) has been working closely with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) to identify alternative mooring sites. These sites require the expansion of some mooring zones to increase their capacity.

Following an initial shortlisting process undertaken in consultation with DBCA, eight locations, including existing mooring zones and a proposed new zone, were further considered by DTMI applying a multi-criteria assessment:

• Benthic Communities and Habitat Mapping outcomes
• Suitable water depth (factoring in cost to install and maintain mooring apparatus)
• Practical shore access for mooring licence holders
• Heritage constraints
• Navigational safety considerations.

DTMI also engaged a consultant to undertake seagrass mapping in seven proposed expanded mooring zones to enable further refinement.

The MMP lists the existing mooring zones agreed to by DTMI and DBCA.  Under the terms of the MMP, both agencies would need to endorse new mooring zones, and the MMP would need to be formally amended and possibly subjected to a separate assessment under the Swan and Canning Management Act 2006 (SCMA). The minor expansion of existing mooring zones was determined as a more efficient and appropriate course of action.

There will be no additional mooring sites created.  The expanded mooring zones will be used to home only the relocated licensees impacted by the reduction of the Matilda Bay mooring zone. This means the maximum number of moorings allowable under the Mooring Management Program (MMP) within the Swan and Canning Riverpark overall will remain.

DTMI will make an assessment on the location of mooring site licences based on multiple criteria, including the size and draft of the vessel, depth of water, accessibility and navigational safety.

Existing mooring licensees will continue to use their authorised moorings in accordance with the conditions of their licence.

No. Existing mooring licensees will continue to manage their licences through the normal renewal and compliance processes unless otherwise advised.

The DTMI website will have updates, and we will be directly communicating with those affected.

All submissions received during the consultation period will be reviewed and considered as part of the assessment process before a final decision is made. Your feedback will be provided to the Swan River Trust board who will consider the appropriateness of the proposed changes.  If supported the Trust will seek endorsement by DBCA’s CEO, followed by approval from the Minister for Environment and the Minister for Transport.

If you have any questions, please email us at maritime@transport.wa.gov.au