A boating tragedy that resulted in a respected Cairns speech pathologist being lost at sea could have been prevented if Australia’s aviation regulator didn’t stop flights to remote Far North islands, a regional mayor says.
Skytrans has been conducting safety tests to prove to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority that commercial flights with full payloads can safely resume on Mabuiag Island after the regulator changed the rules in November 2022. Video: Supplied
Wendy Richardson was travelling from Badu Island to Mabuiag Island on Thursday afternoon when rough seas flipped her six-metre boat.
Two other crew members were recovered by a rescue helicopter but Ms Richardson could not be located by an extensive search operation that spanned four days.
The search was suspended on Monday morning.
Police have suspended the search for Wendy Richardson who as been missing in Torres Strait waters since Thursday after her boat capsized. Picture: Supplied
Ms Richardson had frequently travelled to Mabuiag Island as part of her work as a speech pathologist but was forced to make the journey by boat after a Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) decision halted regular commercial flights to the island in November.
At 450 metres and almost spanning the width of the island, Mabuiag has one of Australia’s shortest commercial runways which Skytrans pilots have used without incident for two decades.
The changes prevented aircraft such as the Cessna C208 Caravan, operated by Skytrans, from landing on Mabuiag’s runway unless payload weight was cut or the runway was extended.
Ms Richardson’s boat flipped about 6km southeast of Mabuiag Island in the Torres Strait. Picture: Google Maps
Although flights have since been able to resume to other affected islands in the Torres Strait, flights to Mabuiag and Erub Island have not.
Without a chartered flight, residents and fifo workers are forced into boats to reach Mabuiag from Badu Island across a notoriously dangerous stretch of water.
Torres Strait Island Regional Council mayor Phillemon Mosby said he had feared a fatal tragedy would follow the controversial decision.
He says he is worried more deaths will come without immediate action.
“What happened was a preventable thing because of the cut to the (flight) service that was there,” Mr Mosby said.
Aerial shot of the Mabuiag Island airstrip which is one of the shortest in Australia.
“It’s appalling something like this has to happen for this issue to be taken seriously. I’m very frustrated and disappointed.”
Mr Mosby said the change to safety regulations had isolated residents and the decision did not account for the difficulty of infrastructure upgrades.
“I strongly don’t think that change was necessary. Our community has operated with those planes for years,” he said.
“Safety regulations need to be balanced by consideration for safe travel between islands for our residents.
“Our runways have not been upgraded for 20 years. The government needs to realise that the Torres Strait Islands are a strategic buffer zone that protects Queensland and Australia and they need to invest in this zone.”
Torres Strait Island Regional Council mayor Phillemon Mosby said the CASA decision was “unnecessary”. Picture: Brendan Radke
Mr Mosby said the disappearance of Ms Richardson was a tragedy.
“She’s been working with family members on the island. When people like her come and service our community, it hits us very hard when we lose them,” he said.
“Her services were essential to vulnerable members of our community.”
Ms Richardson’s sister Julie Ryan said she hoped the loss of her sister would result in positive change.
“It’s bigger than one person. The residents up there need to be able to travel safely,” Ms Ryan said.
“We’ve been worried about Wendy for some time, but she was never going to stop travelling to those islands. She was determined that working up there was the right thing to do.”
Wendy Richardson (left) with her sisters Julie Ryan and Lindy Shepherd. Picture: Supplied
Ms Ryan said she had begun to accept her sister was not going to be found alive.
“(The family) are well aware chances of a positive outcome are close to zero,” she said.
“We’ve been told there’s a huge number of locals searching for Wendy. The family is deeply appreciative to the community.”
Skytrans CEO Alan Milne said the airline was halfway through a test program that would demonstrate to CASA its aircraft and pilots were sufficiently capable of safely using the Mabuiag airstrip.
“We’ve demonstrated there’s plenty of runway left when our planes land on Mabuiag with normal payloads,” Mr Milne said.
Skytrans had operated flights to Mabuiag Island with Cessna Caravan planes for two decades. Picture: File photos
“We will submit the test’s data to CASA with the intention of regaining approval. I’m reasonably confident we will get it … but won’t count my chickens until I have a signed exemption in my hands.”
Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch, who knew Ms Richardson well, said CASA’s decision should have been reviewed immediately.
“This could have been fixed last year. What’s happened now is a consequence of that,” Mr Entsch said.
“It’s been a huge cost to the community; people have been stuck on their islands.
Cairns airline Skytrans is hopeful the successful testing of his aircraft on Mabuiag Island will result in reform to CASA’s decision. Picture: Brendan Radke
“The fact Skytrans had been flying into those locations with no incidents over two decades seems not to have been taken into consideration.
“Previously, pilot training and experience was a factor, and those pilots knew what they were doing. But the new regulation required the airline to add a 20 per cent safety factor … you can’t make Mabuiag runway any longer than it is.
“If CASA had made a decision (to address the new regulation) earlier, Wendy would not have had to go by boat.
Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch said the loss of Ms Richardson was a tragedy. Picture: Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images
“She was a bloody good speech pathologist. The fact she was trying to get to that tiny island to help the kids there speaks a lot about her character.
“I’m deeply saddened for her and her family.”
A CASA spokeswoman said options were being reviewed.
“CASA is working closely with Skytrans on demonstration flights aimed at the resumption of services to Mabuiag Island. We will review information from the flights when it becomes available – we know how important air services are in the region and we are committed to working with operators and the airports to ensure flights can resume safely as soon as possible,” the spokeswoman said.
“Every CASA decision is made with the safety of passengers in mind.
“We are aware of the recent accident … and our thoughts are with the family of the missing woman.”
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