Mandurah Offshore Fishing and Sailing Club has received a national accreditation from the Marina Industry Association (MIA) for their efforts to look after the health of our local waterways.
The achievement is attached to the association’s Clean Marinas Program, which assists operators to protect inland and coastal waterways by leading them through a voluntary accreditation process.
The program provides an easy-to-follow system to develop valuable environmental management practices and rewards accredited operators with real business benefits.
MIA aims to support the sustainable development of the marina industries through education, accreditation and research for the marina owners, developers, managers and operators of berthing, mooring, storage and boatyard facilities it represents.
The local marina is the first in Western Australia to have achieved the title of a Fish Friendly Marina through the program, and one of 20 nationally to reach the milestone.
The marina was required to pass an independent audit that had four stages that needed approval in order to satisfy the criteria.
Mandurah Offshore Fishing and Sailing Club general manager Andrew Henshaw said it felt great to have received the accreditation.
Mr Henshaw said it took several years for the club to be in an ideal position to meet the criteria.
The club operates both land and water based activities from its six-hectare premises, which contains a 213 wet pen marina, offices, licensed premises, function rooms, restaurant and parking.
The marina already holds a Five Gold Anchor rating, which is an industry accreditation scheme designed to provide a customer focused framework for marinas to continually improve their service.
Marina Industries Association chairman Andrew Chapman was on deck at the Breakwater Parade facilities on Monday to award club members with an official certificate.
Mr Chapman spoke of his excitement for the program and its uptake locally.
Mr Henshaw said the club had splashed out on a new educational signage worth $4000, which outlined the environmental implications to marina users.
Mr Chapman said the accreditation was more than just a physical infrastructure but rather a cultural change at grassroots level.
“It’s not about signage, this is about the ethos of the club,” he said.
Mr Henshaw attributed the positive cultural change to passion across the club “right from the bottom up”
For more information on the Clean Marinas Program visit MIA’s website
Credit article: Caitlyn rintoul – Mandurah Mail
https://www.mandurahmail.com.au/story/5433656/industry-body-names-mandurah-marina-state-leader-for-environmental-endeavours/