World standard for marinas

Marinas across Australia now have a new environmental standard to aim for, after the first three marinas in the country have been recognised for achieving the new standard.

The South Australian Transport Minister, Pat Conlon, presented the three marinas, all from South Australia, with the accreditation at the Cruising Yacht Club of South Australia recently.

The three groundbreakers are Cape Jaffa Anchorage, the Cruising Yacht Club of SA and The Marina Hindmarsh Island. The three marinas were recognised for reaching the world standard for environmental management systems, Level 4 ISO 140001 Clean Marinas. 

The program was established in 2002 by the Marina Industries Association of Australia (MIAA) with the objective of protecting Australia's coastal and inland waterways.

There are currently 46 marinas across the country that have passed the Level 3 Clean Marinas 143 check point assessment.

MIAA chairman Andrew Chapman says the creation of Level 4 provides marina business with a practical environmental assessment path. "Well managed club and commercial marinas recognise the importance of providing environmental leadership," Chapman says. "For millions of people, marinas are the gateway to our marine environment. Therefore it is essential that industry in continually improving its environmental management."