The Gordons Bay Scuba Diving Club is hoping to receive approval for the creation of a $10 million artificial reef some four kilometres off Coogee Beach.
In his mayoral minute, Randwick City Mayor Dylan Parker expressed support for the plan to sink a navy ship that will serve as a new recreational spot for scuba diving activities as this may boost tourism and generate more income. The wreck turned artificial reef may also increase the biodiversity of marine life in Coogee, opening the doors for more marine research.
The sunken ship will be placed under a reasonable depth in the water and will not be visible on land. A fee will be collected from divers who may want to access the dive wreck whilst a fishing ban will be imposed on the site. The multimillion funding will be needed to buy, strip and clean the ship before it’s sunk into the water.
Mr Parker and the councillors discussed the proposal at a recent Council meeting, which has drawn some mixed reactions as the plans have to be backed by additional research on its environmental impact and water quality. Cr Rafaela Pandolfini filed a motion to suspend their decision until April 2023.
This is proposal is not a first from the Gordons Bay Scuba Diving Club, which has been campaigning for a dive wreck since 2005. The group has also sent letters and filed a petition to seek support from the NSW Government.
However, some locals are not in favour of the artificial reef and see no economic benefit as Coogee is already a thriving, vibrant community.
Published 3-April-2023
