Gold Coast Seaway Tower to go

Since it opened in 1987, the distinctive Seaway Tower, owned by Gold Coast Waterways Authority (GCWA) and operated by volunteers from Volunteer Marine Rescue (VMR) Southport and Coast Guard Southport, has been a godsend in marine communications. But the concrete building has now reached the end of its life as it stands today.

The volunteers play a very important role in delivering the local marine radio listening watch service, as well as a visual lookout for the Gold Coast Seaway. They maintain the service during their operating hours from 5am to 6pm, after which the function is transferred to Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) of Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ). VTS maintains the radio listening watch on distress Channel 16, whenever the Seaway Tower service is not in operation, while VMR Southport monitors local channels 73 and 82 for vessels logging on and off.

The Seaway Tower has performed many such important functions in the past, however, the building is now more than 30 years old and in need of a significant investment of funds in order to comply with modern building codes.

At the same time, major advances in technology, such as super high definition and low-light cameras, mean that these types of operations do not necessarily need to be physically located in the Seaway Tower.

In light of these factors, all of the stakeholders involved in monitoring the Gold Coast Seaway agree it is time to consider the future of the building, and consequently, the future delivery of its services.

In particular, the GCWA is keen to:
>> Seek community views on the value placed on the Seaway Tower service
>> Understand community expectations on how and from where the services may be provided in the future.

GCWA, VMR Southport and Coast Guard Southport are committed to the safety of all who use the Gold Coast Seaway and invite local boaters to share their views through a brief survey. It will take less than 10 minutes to complete and will be open until Friday, April 20, 2018.