Maritime training programs for at-risk youth stay afloat

By Roje Adaimy

The Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority (SHFA) has abandoned its plans to impound vessels used to train disadvantaged school children in Pyrmont.
Following enquiries from The City News, the SHFA reversed their decision to remove any remaining boats berthed along the Bank Street wharf, which were used by the Pyrmont Heritage Boating Club to run several important youth programs.
The Heritage Boating Club was initially denied access to any of the boats – including the heritage Viking frigate – because of insurance and safety issues, according to the Club’s secretary, Michael Bolton-Hall.
“We have run youth projects using all the vessels that are tied alongside the wharf for the past two years with permission from the previous owner,” he said. “We have been negotiating with them (SHFA) until now to remain attached to the wharf to continue our community projects . . . [but they had] made an ultimatum to have NSW Maritime impound the vessels.”
The decision to remove the boats was made despite several attempts by both the Boating Club and local community groups to advise the SHFA that the wharf was not even being used to access the boats.
When The City News asked the SHFA to clarify this, a spokeswoman said the Foreshore Authority will carefully consider how the wharf is currently being used by the Boating Club, deciding that they “will not be required to relocate until this investigation is completed.”
Mr Bolton-Hall said that if they were required to leave, a number of projects would have had to shut down – including the well established Pyrmont Youth Mentoring Projects, Sydney Secondary College VET programs, Sailing with New Horizons, Ted Noffs restoration project, as well as the Interskill Registered Training Organisation partnership in boat building and restoration youth training project.
“Government policy from the top is to have access and equity needs met for ‘at risk’ youth and this is a prime example of community trying to make this happen while struggling beaurocratic opposition,” Mr Bolton-Hall said.