David Eyre 
VH-MOX Cessna 208 Caravan (amphibious floatplane) (MSN 20800227) of Swan River Seaplanes on the Swan River, South Perth – 23 January 2017. Making its inaugural flight to Margaret River after being officially launched by WA Premier Colin Barnett. Swan River Seaplanes will fly day tours to Margaret River, including a gourmet lunch and winery tours, taking in some of Western Australia’s scenic coastline. Photo © Keith Anderson (Photographed using Canon cameras and lenses)
19 November 2018 © David Eyre
Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures / Swan River Seaplanes operates throughout Western Australia, but is currently unable to obtain regulatory permission to operate from Mandurah for environmental reasons.
Swan River Seaplanes takes tourists from Perth to Margaret River, Rottnest Island and the Pinnacles. Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures operates in the Kimberley region. The company is owned by Troy Thomas, a resident of Dawesville, in the Mandurah area.
Mr Thomas proposes taking tourists on day trip seaplane flights from Perth to Mandurah. During the flight, they could take in aerial views of Mandurah and the waterways, land and take a boat cruise, have lunch and fly back to Perth. Tourists on the Perth – Margaret River flights could also make a stop at Mandurah.
The company proposes operating the seaplanes from a floating jetty and a pontoon on the shallow part of the Eastern Foreshore, opposite Mandurah Performing Arts Centre.
However, the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation said seaplane operations within the gazetted Peel Inlet Management area, are specifically prohibited by the Waterways Conservation Regulations 1981.
The regulations protect the estuary’s ecological importance, as it is an important area for waterbirds and protected migratory birds. Conservationists consider seaplanes would disturb birds, dolphins and people.
