A man who has repeatedly ignored official notices to remove boats which he has left illegally moored at Laurieton, on Sydney Harbour, at Lake Macquarie, Tuggerah Lakes and the Hunter River will have the matters referred to court this week.
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Since May this year, the Lake Munmorah man has ignored eight different official 'notices to remove' a vessel which he has illegally left on a mooring or is blocking a waterway, NSW Maritime A/Executive Director Mark Hutchings said.
"When you receive a notice to remove a vessel from the state boating regulator, it is not okay to ignore it in the hope it will go away," Mr Hutchings said.
"Choosing to ignore a legal notice to remove a boat blocking a waterway is akin to choosing to ignore a parking fine.
"NSW Maritime will argue that this person just leaves these boats which he acquires wherever he likes, including on emergency moorings or opportunistically on moorings belonging to other people.
"What was originally a $250 fine for a vessel obstructing a mooring can reach up to $5500 once a matter is being considered by a court."
Mr Hutchings said two of the eight illegally moored vessels had sunk and led to navigation and potential pollution hazards, requiring intervention and salvaging by NSW Maritime at taxpayers' expense.
"We will be putting to the court how much he has cost the agency in terms of salvages," he said.
One matter is listed to be heard at Manly Local Court on October 1, three matters at Port Macquarie on October 17, two matters at Belmont on October 23 and one at Newcastle on October 25.