Drownings inquiry delayed

The State Government has delayed making a decision on whether it will hold an inquiry into the drowning of two men off Penguin Island on December 28.

A spokeswoman for Environment Minister Bill Marmion said a decision would not be made until after police finished their report into the fatalities and after the Coroner made an official finding on the deaths.

Rockingham MLA Mark McGowan last week called for an inquiry, believing the deaths of Praveen Pagadala Shiva, 31, and Pavan Ganasala, 37, had added to ‘‘a list of deaths’’ associated with the sandbar.

Mr McGowan s a i d he understood about 10 people had died at the spot in the past 80 years, but did not know if all the deaths had been classified as drownings.

He said Penguin Island discovery centre staff and the operator of the ferry between the island and the mainland should have the authority to close the Mersey Point sandbar in rough weather.

He said tragedy could be prevented if the sandbar could be closed quickly when high winds made the crossing dangerous.

The Environment and Conservation Department, which has managed the island and the crossing since May 1990, is still carrying out an internal investigation.

However, a department spokeswoman, who said the department did not have records of any previous drownings at the sandbar, was unsure when the inquiry would be completed.

She said the department had five rangers on duty on the day of the tragedy — four patrolling the ShoalwaterIslands Marine Park, but only one on the island.

Last week ferry operator Terry Howson said many people who complained about the cost of ferry tickets did not realise the company paid a fee to the department for every person they took to the island.

The spokeswoman said the department received 7 per cent of the ferry transport ticket price.

‘‘This funding is used to maintain and improve facilities for visitors to Penguin Island,’’ she said.