Perth Voice Interactive

It’s back to square one for a catalina flying boat business, with the Swan River Trust ordering it to reapply for permission to land seaplanes on the river.

SRT environment officer Jacey Mills this week wrote to Catalina Airlines stating its application had to be reconsidered—a year after the original application was lodged—because the proposed landing site had been shifted from east to west of the Narrows. “As this represents a considerable amendment to the initial application, the original referral agencies have been asked to comment on the new landing location,” she says.

But Catalina Airlines only shifted from the South Perth waters to near the old brewery because it was suggested by South Perth Liberal MP John McGrath during the consultation phase of its original application.

“We have moved it [as asked], so why do we need to reapply,” asks Catalina Airlines chief Mack McCormack.

“This means any of my competitors who apply now will be in front of us.”

To make matters worse, the Trust is demanding to see more information on seaplane noise before approving a training run that’s scheduled for next week.

Ms Mills says a separate detailed application is needed for the training run and “it is unlikely the application will be assessed before 12 October”.

Ms McCormack says he’s waited nearly two years for the SRT to make up its mind.

Angry

“It could take another year,” he says, clearly angry. “I have to bring in lawyers, this is getting ridiculous.”

He says the delays have cost him a potential $4 million in turnover and put at risk what he considers to be a major WA tourism attraction.

The SRT says this week it cannot comment on, “the particulars of an on-going application”, having last week told the Voice it is considering an application for a 12-month trial period.

The Trust is guided by its own policy on floatplanes, which states after having dealt with a number of similar applications, “each application has been refused on the basis of amenity and conflict with other river and foreshore activities”.

Mr McCormack says the policy is a sham given seaplanes on the Swan are an activity approved by the WA government. Other states also allow it.

He is now asking WA enivoronment minister Albert Jacob if there’s any point reapplying to what will soon be a defunct body, whose duties are being absorbed into a new WA parks and wildlife department.

“We have completed all necessary documentation,” he writes. “However, the SRT keeps asking us to re-apply with a new application. We believe this is a stalling tactic as clearly the SRT will cease to exist in the not too distant future.”

Catalina Airlines wants to operate two planes to fly passengers to Rottnest, the Abrolhos islands off Geraldton, Mandurah, Margaret River and other sightseeing, diving and snorkelling destinations.

Mr McCormack notes the SRT gave Perth city council approval in January 2011 to use the catalinas for a special airshow on Australia Day—a year before he lodged his application.

by CARMELO AMALFI