Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L01461:reg:7:p1
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L01461
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 7 (pt 1/10)
Character Range: 87176–90333

7                                              Radar conspicuousness                                   As the site provides a good radar echo, no additional radar enhancement is required.

AMSA's goals
AMSA is responsible, under the Navigation Act, for maintaining a network of marine AtoN around Australia's coastline that assist mariners to make safe and efficient passages. AMSA's present network of approximately 500 marine AtoN includes traditional lighthouses such as Mersey Bluff Lighthouse, beacons, buoys, racons, automatic identification system stations, metocean sensors including broadcasting tide gauges, current meter, directional wave rider buoys and a weather station.
Technological developments in the area of vessel traffic management have also contributed to increasing navigation safety and helped promote marine environment protection. AMSA aims to meet international standards for the reliability of lighthouses set by the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA).
At the time of preparing this management plan, the major goal for Mersey Bluff Lighthouse primarily encompasses its continued utilisation as an AtoN for as long as necessary, while upkeeping the appropriate maintenance to conserve and preserve the heritage values of the lighthouse.
Lighthouse performance standards
AMSA aims to meet international standards for the reliability of lighthouses set by IALA. Mersey Bluff light is designated as an IALA Availability Category 1 AtoN (within a scale of Category 1 to Category 3, Category 1 aids are most critical). Category 1 aids have an availability target of 99.8 per cent.
Access to the lighthouse
One practical effect of this performance standard is that the operational equipment and structure of the light need to be kept in good repair by regular preventative maintenance and equipment that fails in service is repaired quickly. Routine maintenance and emergency repairs are carried out by AMSA's maintenance contractor. The contractor needs reliable access to the site for this work, and AMSA officers need access for occasional inspection of the site including auditing the contractor's performance.
  6.5 Proposals for change
Preventative maintenance works are carried out on the lighthouse to maintain its status as a working marine AtoN, and to assist in the site's conservation.
A list of scheduled preventative maintenance work is identified within the latest available site inspection report. The information provided below was taken from this report:
Maintenance description          Estimated maintenance date
Mersey Bluff reseal glazing      2025
Mersey Bluff lantern room paint  2025
Mersey Bluff structure paint     2029

  6.6 Potential pressures
In the case of Mersey Bluff Lighthouse, the obligation to remove/replace original fabric materials from the lighthouse owing to unavoidable and irreversible deterioration remains a potential pressure on the site and it's identified heritage values. At the time of preparing this management plan, no plans have been made to remove or replace original fabric materials. In the event plans are made to modify