We had a special visitor this week: a juvenile Green Sea Turtle, calmly cruising around F Arm Marina, completely at ease in its surroundings. 

Sightings like this are always a highlight, but they also tell a bigger story. Juvenile green turtles use sheltered waterways like Pittwater for feeding and resting, and their presence is a strong indicator that the waterway is in good condition.

It’s a reminder that the protections in place across the Club serve an important purpose. The fact that wildlife like this chooses to spend time here reflects the collective effort that goes into maintaining a clean and healthy marine environment.

Simple, everyday decisions by all of us continue to make a real difference. The Club provides a range of guidance and resources for members, visitors and contractors, including:

• RPAYC Environmental Policy – guiding how we minimise impacts on air, land and water, with a focus on continuous improvement and responsible operations
• MIA Clean Boaties Fact Sheet – promoting best practice for vessel maintenance, waste management and spill prevention
• Pollution Incident Response Management Plan a legislated framework that ensures any pollution incident is rapidly contained, managed and reported, with clear procedures for response and communication

These frameworks are supported by practical controls embedded in the Club’s By-laws, Contractor Policy, Tenant Leases and operational procedures, including:

• Designated work areas to prevent contaminants entering the water
• Requirements for containment, spill kits and responsible waste disposal
• Use of the ship to shore pump-out facility on the service wharf
• Restrictions on in-water and marina-based “dirty works” such as sanding, painting, fibreglassing and antifouling
• In-water hull cleaning requirements
• Ongoing environmental monitoring

These everyday actions help protect water quality and ensure the marina remains a safe habitat for marine life. It’s a small moment, but a meaningful one and a good reminder that what we do above the water has a direct impact below the waterline.