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12 SEPTEMBER 2026 | VOL .53 NO.37
Expert sounds alarm on ferry injury, death By LLOYD GORMAN
A top Australian marine safety expert says a ferry terminal in Matilda Bay would increase the risk of death or serious injury for vulnerable river users.
Paul Chivers says Nedlands jetty would be a less dangerous option. Mr Chivers consults on risk assessment for Surf Life Saving Australia and Sail GP as well as high-risk Red Bull events and TV shows such as The Amazing Race. He said a report he gave to Transport Minister Rita Saffioti warned that building the ferry
terminal at Matilda Bay would place water users at risk. It underlined his assessment that “unavoidable conflict” would occur between ferries and sailors, particularly juniors, novices and disabled. “The potential exists for serious injury or fatality involving vulnerable waterway users,” he wrote. Mr Chivers was commissioned by Safety on Swan to produce an independent safety and risk review. The group organised the study because they were told Ms Saffioti would consider any new information they could produce.
Ms Saffioti said safety risks had been addressed by the project team. “It is important to recognise that the [Chivers] report focuses on ‘inherent risk’, which considers hazards before the application of controls, mitigation measures or operational arrangements,” she said. “The state government’s decision making considered both the hazards and the effectiveness of the controls and mitigation measures that will be implemented to ensure the ferry service can operate safely in Matilda Bay. “We are committed to ensur-
ing that any risks associated with the proposed ferry service and terminal infrastructure are appropriately understood, managed, and mitigated before ferry operations begin.” Mr Chivers’ detailed 44-page report found that terminal locations at Matilda Bay and Nedlands Jetty were a few hundred metres apart but were radically different waterway environments. “Matilda Bay functions as a sheltered, high-use recreational waterway supporting organised sport, disability and adaptive recreation, education • Please turn to page 69
Megan Bagworth holding the risk report with Sailability members, from left, Kylie Forth, Rod Angwin, Erin McGlew and Genevieve Wickham. Photo: Ross Swanborough
New push for 40kmh western suburbs By JACK MADDERN
Mosman Park mayor Paul Shaw wants western suburb councils to work together to lower speed limits to 40kmh and connect future transport plans.
Make them all 40: Paul Shaw.
The councils have similar transport strategies and have been investigating ways to lower speed limits on their roads. Mosman Park’s plan to begin a transport strategy with an $85,000 initial report is aligned to recent feedback from the Western Suburbs Alliance – the group of six local councils established in 2012 to lobby for common goals. Claremont is planning to publicly consult residents on turning their local roads to 40kmh soon. Cambridge and Subiaco were
looking at dropping their local roads to 40kmh through the Perth Inner City Group’s Safer Speed Zone Project. Nedlands recently reduced Asquith Street in Mt Claremont to 40kmh while Cottesloe will make Marine Parade 40kmh this month. Mr Shaw said the Western Suburbs Alliance could be used to help common transport and infrastructure projects. “Traffic is the obvious one,” he said. “Most drivers don’t care what suburb they are in when they are commuting from A to B. “There needs to be integrated planning, particularly around the Stirling Highway corridor and train stations. • Please turn to page 69
SALE SALE
Aidan Astbury prepared for this moment from the time he trained as a Nipper at age 6.
Teen surfer saves a life
By BEN DICKINSON
A 15-year-old surfer who rescued a drowning man from a rip at Scarborough Beach has urged beachgoers to pay attention to warning signs.
Christ Church Grammar School student Aidan Astbury was out for an after-school surf on Tuesday when he saw a group of people trying to help a man who was struggling to keep his head above water. “They couldn’t move him out of the big swell,” Aidan told 10 News. “There were some pretty big sets coming in and they were taking it right on the head.” Aidan, a City of Perth Surf Life Saving Club surf cadet who started Nippers training at the age of six, sprang into action. “I kind of swum under him to try and keep his body out of the water,” he said. “If he was there for a couple more minutes he would have gone unconscious from how much water he swallowed.” An ambulance was called but the swimmer, aged in his 20s, did not require transportation to hospital. The beach was unpatrolled at • Please turn to page 69
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