Seaplanes on the Maroochy River

[kind_cir]

Have been in the river the last 2 days and the plane taxis under the motorway bridge. The wings fit between the pylons with a few meters spare either side.
The river is not busy at the moment, but come Bream season, this plane will have major trouble navigating under that bridge with the boat traffic.

Oh, and this business is well and truly up and running.


http://www.paradiseseaplanes.com.au/index.html

[gruntahunta]

Have been in the river the last 2 days and the plane taxis under the motorway bridge. The wings fit between the pylons with about 2m spare either side. The wind tends to buffet the plane and it has had up to 30cm side to side movement.
The river is not busy at the moment, but come Bream season, this plane will have major trouble navigating under that bridge with the boat traffic.

Oh, and this business is well and truly up and running.


http://www.paradiseseaplanes.com.au/index.html

Disaster waiting to happen. Maybe some money has changed hands in getting this approved.

And say say goodbye to the crab pots that are scattered all over this part f the river.

Do planes have to have an anchor in case of break downs, or do they just drift at the mercy of the tide into anything in there path?

[kind_cir]

The only real concern I have is the plane navigating under the bridge during times it is really busy. Bream season sees it get real busy here with boats at anchor. The response on their facebook page was that they will just cross their fingers.

awesome... I'll have my fingers crossed too.

[darylive]

Have been in the river the last 2 days and the plane taxis under the motorway bridge. The wings fit between the pylons with about 2m spare either side. The wind tends to buffet the plane and it has had up to 30cm side to side movement.
The river is not busy at the moment, but come Bream season, this plane will have major trouble navigating under that bridge with the boat traffic.

Oh, and this business is well and truly up and running.


http://www.paradiseseaplanes.com.au/index.html

Well there are all the details to lodge complaints.

[ollie1]

I think its a terrible idea! I was out on the river in the last week and between the Motorway Bridge and just upstream from Petrie ck. was full, with about 4 boats towing tubes with kids on them several jet ski's and countless fishing boats either anchored or making there way up and down the river. The plane was right in the middle of them making its way up river from the bridge. This is a disaster waiting to happen.

[MickS]

I have sent an email to council with my concerns. Can I encourage others to do the same.
mail@sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au

My 10 year old son does his sailing lessons on the river, he does not need seaplanes to contend with.

[AndrewB]

My son and I were out on Saturday and saw it for the 1st time, so got up close and personal to get some happy snaps, the pilot was happy enough to wave back for the photos.
As per most here, I reckon it is a recipe for disaster and an accident waiting to happen. Far too many other user on the river particularly where the plane operates.

[MickS]

To date no reply from council about my concerns.Only an automated response to say they will get back to me.

[kind_cir]

I do not object to the plane opperating on the river anywhere it likes. It is however some concern that it is allowed to cross under the motorway bridge. I know this area can get fairly busy at times with boats at anchor, including hire boats and pontoons. The plane seems quite manoverable, and able to stop and start very quickly.
A plane with a large wingspan and a fast spinning exposed prop, navigating between bridge pylons with pontoon and other boats at anchor, does not seem safe.

[MickS]

Had a call from a nice lady at council who advised that the council had granted the seaplane company the right to use some of the foreshore, however everything that happens on the river is not their concern. That responsibility falls to Maritime Safety Queensland. http://www.msq.qld.gov.au/

[Dignity]

Ah, the old buck passing, merry go around, routine has started. No doubt something will get sorted out when there is an incident although that can take years to resolve.