Perth Voice Interactive

Mack McCormack reckons his seaplane business could be the next big thing for WA tourism—except the Swan River Trust is standing in his way.

The Catalina Airlines boss says he’s “lost two years and millions of dollars in turnover” because of what he regards as petty environmental wrangling from the soon-to-be-disbanded agency.

“The Trust asked us to do environmental studies a year ago because they were worried about us killing dolphins and seabirds,” he told the Voice, speaking from Cygnet Bay north of Broome. “I can’t find any other study of dolphin strikes anywhere in the world.

“We have been put through the grinder, there is no environmental issue. We’re ready to go.”

He’d originally applied in 2012 to land and launch seaplanes on the South Perth side of the Narrows but hit opposition from local Liberal MP John McGrath, concerned about amateur yachties being clocked on the head. Mr McGrath suggested a site near the old brewery on the Crawley side of the Narrows and Mr McCormack obliged.

In a December 21, 2012 letter to Mr McCormack the Swan River Trust states “no major issues were raised” but 10 months later he still has no approval.

The Trust says it is considering an application for a trial period of approximately 12 months for two seaplanes to operate with a total of six movements a day.

Mr McCormack wants to operate two seaplanes, one carrying up to 10 passengers and the other up to 24, flying to Rottnest, the Abrolhos islands off Geraldton, Mandurah, Margaret River and other sight-seeing, diving and snorkelling destinations.

“Visitors don’t want to sit in a hotel room all day when they could visit the best diving sites in the state without having to drive hours to get there,” he says.

“It takes one hour and 20 minutes to fly to Geraldton, which is delighted at the new tourism opportunities. There is millions of dollars sitting on the ground doing nothing right now.”

The ex-SAS trooper and WA entrepreneur of the year says all that stands in the way is the Trust’s bureaucratic culture.

by CARMELO AMALFI