Please select your home edition
Edition
Maritimo M50

Bring out your expired flares for safe, easy disposal

by Emily Rundle 19 Nov 2020 11:43 UTC
Marine flares © Emily Rundle

Boaters across NSW will again be able to dispose of their expired flares safely and easily with 46 collection points launching this month.

This year, the NSW Maritime collection program will increase from two to three stages, with mobile collections up and down the NSW coast from 20 to 30 November, 8 to 17 January next year and 1 to 18 April.

"Expired flares are classified as Class 1 explosives under the Australian Dangerous Goods Code and require authorised disposal," NSW Maritime Executive Director Mark Hutchings said.

"Flares are to be used when you're in trouble. They provide an exact location for searching aircraft or vessels and they are only to be lit when rescuers are in view," he said.

"Most flares have a use-by date of three years and they must be replaced before the expiry date, with penalties applicable for those found to be using or carrying expired flares.

"This collection program provides the boating community with an opportunity to safely dispose of their out of date flares, particularly as flare collection is not permitted at service centres, registries or maritime sites."

Mr Hutchings said flares were an important component of required safety equipment.

NSW Maritime Boating Education Officers will be available to assist boaters at some of the flare collection points, with advice on flares and other safety equipment such as lifejacket servicing and to answer any questions about boating safety rules.

NSW Maritime expired flare collections will be provided from Monday 20 November to Monday 30 November with locations listed below:  

Northern Collections

COLLECTION POINT DATE START TIME FINISH TIME
Tweed Heads   Kennedy Drive Boat Ramp Friday, 20 November 2020 7:30 9:00
Fishery Creek Boat Ramp, Johnson Drive, off River Street, Ballina Friday, 20 November 2020 10:30 12:30
Evans Head Boat Ramp, Ocean Drive, Evans Head Friday, 20 November 2020 14:00 15:30
Spenser Street Boat Ramp, Iluka Saturday, 21 November 2020 7:30 9:00
Yamba Road Boat Ramp, Yamba Road, Yamba Saturday, 21 November 2020 10:30 12:30
Coffs Harbour Boat Ramp, Jordan Esplanade, Coffs Harbour Saturday, 21 November 2020 15:00 17:30
Stuart Island Boat Ramp, Nambucca Heads, access off Riverside Drive Sunday, 22 November 2020 7:30 9:30
Mattys Flat Boat Ramp, New Entrance Road, South West Rocks Sunday, 22 November 2020 11:00 13:00
Westport Boat Ramp, Park Street, Port Macquarie Sunday, 22 November 2020 15:00 17:00
Queen Elizabeth Park, River Street, off Victoria Street, Taree Monday, 23 November 2020 7.30 9.30
Crowdy Head Boat Ramp, Crowdy Head Rd, Crowdy Head Monday, 23 November 2020 11:00 13:00
Forster Boat Ramp, Dolphin Drive, Forster Monday, 23 November 2020 14:30 16:30
Soldiers Point Marina Boat Ramp, Mitchell St, Soldiers Point Tuesday, 24 November 2020 7:30 10:00
Little Beach Boat Ramp, Lighthouse Road, Little Beach Tuesday, 24 November 2020 11:00 14:00
Stockton North Boat Ramp, Fullerton Street, Stockton Tuesday, 24 November 2020 15:30 17:30
Carrington Boat Ramp, Pat Jordan Oval, Tully Street, Carrington Wednesday, 25 November 2020 7:30 10:30
Blacksmiths Boat Ramp, Ungala Road,  Blacksmiths Wednesday, 25 November 2020 14:00 16:30
Norah Head Boat Ramp, Cabbage Tree Harbour, Bald Street, Norah Head Friday, 27 November 2020 7:30 9:00
Terrigal Haven Boat Ramp, Off Terrigal Esplanade, Scenic Highway, Terrigal Friday, 27 November 2020 10:30 12:00
Gosford Boat Ramp, Dane Drive, Gosford Friday, 27 November 2020 13:00 14:30
Lions Park Boat Ramp, North Burge Road, Woy Woy Friday, 27 November 2020 15:30 17:00

Greater Sydney Region Collections

COLLECTION POINT DATE START TIME FINISH TIME
Bayview Boat Ramp, Pittwater Road, Bayview Sunday, 29 November 2020 7:30 (Closed 12:00-12:30) 17:00
Wonga Road Boat Ramp, Wonga Road, Yowie Bay Sunday, 29 November 7:30 9:30
Swallow Rock boat ramp, 20 Swallow Rock Drive, Grays Point Sunday, 29 November 10:30 12:30
Hawkesbury Reserve Boat Ramp, Moruya Rd, Sylvania Waters Sunday, 29 November 14:00 16:00
Transport for NSW Office 33 James Craig Road, Rozelle Monday, 30 November 9:00 11:00
Rose Bay Boat Ramp, Lyne Park, Rose Bay Monday, 30 November 12:00 13:30
Foreshore Road Boat Ramp, Foreshore Drive Banksmeadow Monday, 30 November 15:00 17:00
Tench Reserve Boat Ramp, Tench Reserve, Tench Avenue, Penrith Monday, 30 November 2020 7:30 9:00
Ermington Boat Ramp, Wharf Road, Ermington Monday, 30 November 2020 10:30 12:00
Drummoyne Boat Ramp, Taplin Park, The Esplanade, Drummoyne Monday, 30 November 2020 13:00 14:30
Tunks Park Boat Ramp, 194 Vernon Street, Cammeray Monday, 30 November 2020 15:30 17:30

Southern Collections

COLLECTION POINT DATE START TIME FINISH TIME
Quarantine Bay Boat Ramp, Quarantine Bay Road, Eden Friday, 20 November 7:30 9:00
Merimbula Boat Ramp, Arthur Kaine Drive, Merimbula Friday, 20 November 10:00 11:30
Kianinny Bay Boat Ramp, Off Kianinny Street, Tathra Friday, 20 November 12:30 14:00
Bermagui Harbour Boat Ramp, Off Lamont Street, Bermagui Friday, 20 November 15:30 17:30
Apex Park Boat Ramp, Centenary Drive, Narooma Saturday, 21 November 2020 7:30 8:30
Preddys Wharf Boat Ramp, Preddys Wharf Road, Moruya Saturday, 21 November 2020 10:00 11:30
Hanging Rock Boat Ramp, Hanging Rock Place, Batemans Bay Saturday, 21 November 2020 13:00 14:30
Next to Marine Rescue NSW Base, Off Wason Street, Ulladulla Saturday, 21 November 2020 16:00 17:30
Sussex Inlet Lions Park, Lakehaven Drive, Sussex Inlet Sunday, 22 November 2020 7:30 9:00
Wollamia Boat Ramp, Frank Lewis Way, Woollamia Sunday, 22 November 2020 10:30 12:00
Greys Beach Boat Ramp, Fairway Drive, Nowra Sunday, 22 November 13:00 14:30
Kiama Harbour Boat Ramp, Off Blowhole Point Road, Kiama Sunday, 22 November 16:15 17:30
Port Kembla Boat Ramp, Foreshore Drive (outer harbour), Port Kembla Saturday, 28 November 2020 12:00 13:30
Bellambi Boat Ramp, Robert Cram Drive, Bellambi Saturday, 28 November 2020 14:30 16:30

For more information on the expired flares program or to look up a location near you, visit www.rms.nsw.gov.au/maritime/safety-rules/safety-equipment/flare-disposal.html

Related Articles

Speak up for Striped Bass
Tell ASMFC to reject seasonal closures The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) is considering new restrictions on striped bass for 2026, proposing a 12% reduction for the recreational sector, which would require additional seasonal closures to achieve the reduction. Posted on 9 Sep
Marine Auctions: September Online Auctions
The bidding will open on Tuesday 23rd September The bidding for the September Online Auction will Open on Tuesday 23rd September and will close on Monday 29th September 2025. Entries are now being accepted for October's Online Auction. Posted on 9 Sep
Bulwarks and Bulldust – Show 6 Season 2
Episode Six - Marco Masia from MAN Distributor, Seapower Episode Six - Marco Masia from MAN Distributor, Seapower, about MAN Marine Diesels, their new MAN V12X, Solé Generators, carbon emissions, IMO Tier III and Euro V, greenwashing, and boat shows. Lots to learn, so strap in for a great time. Posted on 7 Sep
The Sportsman Insider, Episode 1
Unveiling the Open 402 Hull Welcome to the launch of The Sportsman Insider, a new series designed to showcase the progress of future models at Sportsman Boats. Posted on 6 Sep
Lowe Boats unveils all-new LF Pontoon Series
A versatile lineup of fishing-first pontoons Lowe Boats, a leading manufacturer of high-quality, full-featured aluminum boats, today announced the all-new LF Pontoon series, a versatile lineup of fishing-first pontoons designed for both passionate anglers and fun-seeking families. Posted on 31 Aug
Bulwarks and Bulldust – Show 5 Season 2
Greenwashing - Who is saying what, what can be believed, and what needs a load more inspection... Episode Five - ponders the topic of Greenwashing. We offer some thoughts on the matter and talk with Annika Thomson, Wes Moxey, and Greg Haines about their thoughts on this vast subject. The fifth episode of Series Two is now live Posted on 31 Aug
Marine Auctions: August Online Auctions Bids Open
To Finish Thursday 28th August 2025 at 2pm AEST The Bidding is open and will end Thursday 28 August at 2pm AEST. Posted on 27 Aug
DAIWA: Pathway to TATULA Ownership
The least expensive model in the TATULA reel family DAIWA's versatile 2025 TATULA X TW 100 baitcaster offers legacy TATULA performance at a price that's right for the times Posted on 26 Aug
Fishing: Late Summer Smallmouth Bass
Keep a bead on your surroundings and fish poppers for success When it comes to feeding behavior, smallmouth bass are generalists, and you can catch them a lot of different ways on any given day. Posted on 21 Aug
The next time you get frustrated on the water...
Everything seems like a struggle We all have those days where nothing seems to go right... when everything seems like a struggle. Posted on 21 Aug
Maritimo M75Palm Beach Motor Yachts