Study to identify location and storage of vessels

Study to identify location and storage of vessels
 
The State’s boating regulator, NSW Maritime, will undertake a comprehensive boat ownership and storage study, Ports and Waterways Minister Joe Tripodi has announced.
 
The study will gather statistics and outline the demographics of current boat ownership and storage for vessels greater than 5 metres in length.
 
“The study will update and accurately quantify the number and type of vessels currently stored in NSW, and forecast future trends in storage demand and types,” Mr Tripodi said.
 
“It will detail current and future demand for boat storage on different waterways – including potential regional demand for on-water storage, dedicated dry stack storage facilities and boat ramps.
 
“In short, this study will help inform the boating industry about future infrastructure planning decisions.”  
 
The study will examine issues such as:
 
• Vessel ownership;
• Storage trends;
• Increasing waterway usage;
• Regional demographics;
• Changing vessel types;
• Permissible structures; and
• Planning issues.
 
NSW Maritime has appointed specialist property consulting firm, Hill PDA, to carry out the study.   
 
“Hill PDA has a team of land economists, researchers, valuers and urban planners skilled at providing such strategic advice,” Mr Tripodi said.   
 
The Department of Lands and the Department of Planning will also be key partners in the project.  Overseeing the study will be a steering committee comprised of the Boating Industry Association (BIA) and the Boat Owners
Association (BOA).  
 
There are more than 223,000 registered vessels in NSW, including 216,000 recreational and personal watercraft (such as jetskis). Another 7200 vessels are commercially registered, used for hire and drive purposes, or are in
periodic survey.

“Vessels are stored in a variety of locations across NSW – including backyards, in garages, on trailers parked on the street, dry stack storage facilities near waterways, moorings, marina berths or private berths,” Mr Tripodi said.
 
The study is expected to be completed by mid-2009 and the report will be made available to the boating public.