Vessel navigation and berthing/mooring in canal and lake estates | Redland City Council
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Further information

Vessel navigation and berthing/mooring in canal and lake estates

Redland City canals are maintained at the following navigable depth:

  • Aquatic Paradise canals at 1.5m deep
  • Raby Bay canals at 1.9m deep.

However, canals vary and are deeper in some sections to allow siltation without impacting on vessel navigation.

In Aquatic Paradise, canals vary between around 1.9m and 3.5m deep, while Raby Bay canals typically vary between around 2.2m up to 4m deep.

The navigable depth dictates the size of the vessel you can safely keep in the canals without running aground. Deep draft vessels may need to consider the daily tide heights when accessing the canals.

Vessel size restrictions

Pontoon designs are assessed by Council with input from Marine Safety Queensland on appropriate vessel length, width and weight:

  • vessels in Aquatic Paradise can have a maximum draft of 1.5m (the distance between the waterline and the bottom of the keel) see Figure 1.
    Figure 1. Maximum draft of vessels in Aquatic Paradise
  • vessels in Raby Bay can have a maximum draft of 1.9m.
    Figure 2. Maximum draft of vessels in Raby Bay

Pontoons, vessels and other floating attachments cannot extend into the navigable channel.

Navigable channel restrictions

The navigable channel is the regular course vessels follow through the canals.

If two vessels are moored on opposite sides of the canal, a minimum navigable channel distance must be calculated by the vessel owner. Check navigable channel mapping for more information.

What is the recommended distance from the property boundary for berthing/mooring?

Use a diagram to theoretically extend your property boundary lines into the canal. Your vessel must then have at least 1.5m clearance from the theoretical side boundaries.

Minimum clearance is measured from the outermost projection of the vessel. This includes tenders, bowsprits, anchors and duckboards (see Figure 3).

Figure 3. Calculating clearance between vessel and side boundaries

As a matter of courtesy and to avoid conflicts, any vessel berthed or moored in the canal estates should not:

  • protrude or overhang beyond the projections of the property boundaries
  • cause a navigational hazard to vessels accessing neighbouring properties or users of the canal.

Where can I get more information?

For more information, please contact Redland City Council on 07 3829 8999 or at rcc@redland.qld.gov.au.