Where are we at and whose support do we have?

We have a detailed business plan! We would really appreciate your feedback.

as of August 2006...

• We have chosen a site. This site is sufficiently clear of submarine telecommunication cables, trawling routes and shipping lanes. However the site is still subject to approval and pre-scuttling EIS.
• George Evatt and Peter Howard have dived the proposed site, confirming its suitability and GPS coordinates. Photographs from their dive are available here.

The following elected representatives have expressed support:

• The Federal Member for Wentworth, Hon. Malcolm Turnbull has written on our behalf to the Hon Robert Hill, Minister for Defence, requesting the decommissioning list of the RAN (25 July 2005). HMAS Westralia & HMAS Adelaide are due for decomissioning in September 2006. HMAS ships Tobruk Kanimbla and Manoora may be replaced by 2010-2015, and HMAS Success 2015-2017. Senator Hill believes that "the benefits of such projects are real and worthwhile. And they translate into business opportunities in eco tourism which multiply into other local service industries."

• Hon Malcolm Turnbull is also investigating the possibility of obtaining the Pong Su (confiscated North Korean freighter involved in drug smuggling in April 2003) for the project instead of it being used for target practise by the RAN. This ship is already in Chowder Bay, NSW.

• Clover Moore MP, Lord Mayor of Sydney, has said that the City of Sydney would consider the use of Blackwattle Bay as a site for pre-scuttling preparations. She believes an artificial reef would provide tourist and educational opportunities. *

• Mr Peter Debnam (Member for Vaucluse)

• Tania Gadiel (Member for Parramatta)
• Peter Garrett (Member of Kingsford)

We have had expressions of support and/or assistance from:

• Mary Louise Williams (Australian National Maritime Museum), Sue Dengate (CARP - Central Coast Artificial Reef Project), Geoff Longhurst (NSW DPI Fisheries Conservation Manager), Darren Hale (NSW Fisheries), John Jennings (Geographe Bay Artificial Reef Society), Will Scott (Marine Discovery Centre, Bondi), Mike Kinley (Australian Maritime Authority), Richard Bagnato (Professional Fisherman's Association), Tim Fisher (Tourism Australia)
• Andrew Judge (Manly Haudralics Laboratory) is happy to provide scientific assistance for preparation of an EIS

• Andrew Read (NSW DPI Fisheries) suggests that we try to obtain a fishing closure over the area.

• Mr C Gellatly, Director General of the NSW Premier's Department has advised us that the Australian Defence Force has registered our interest in acquiring a vessel.

• Dr Peter Steinberg, Chair of the Sydney Harbour Institute of Marine Science (SHIMS) (a collaborative venture between UNSW, UTS and Macquarie University), has offered us any assistance we require on the science side of the project!

• Guy Thomas (Qld EPA) was Project Coordinator responsible for the scuttling of the HMAS Brisbane in 2005, which has already become a popular dive site. He has been particularly helpful with advice and guidance.

Positive responses from dive industry representatives:

• SCAN (Scuba Clubs Association of Australia)
• Judity Macdonald (Scuba Warehouse)
• Shahram Saber (PADI Asia Pacific)
• Peter Gardiner (Pro Dive Australia)
• Pro Dive Coogee
• Yves Moulard (Scubaroo)
• Bill Marden (Subaquatic)

We have positive responses and useful information from:

• Hon Ian Campbell (Minister for Environment and Heritage, and Senator for WA) has stated that “artificial reefs are labour intensive, time consuming and can be very expensive, in particular the financial aspects of the cleanup and scuttling of the vessel can be extremely high... You may wish to consider your local council or state environment agency to discuss the possibility of a joint arrangement. An application fee of $5000 applies.” See http://www.deh.gov.au/coasts/pollution/dumping/index.html for more information.

• Eric Fielding-Smith (Reach: Submarine Cable Protection) has told us that there is a one nautical mile exclusion zone around submarine cables.

• David Nutley (NSW Heritage Office) is responsible for ensuring that the vessel proposed for scuttling does not have any historical significance itself, and further, that it does not impact on historic wrecks. He is very positive about the project.

• Jim Booth (NSW Dept of Environment and Conservation) suggested that we contact the Commonwealth Dept of Environment and Heritage.

• Murray Matson (Randwick City Council) was unable to express an opinion about the level of public support for the proposal

• Roy Gabriel (Canadian Artifical Reef Consultants) has told us that the life expectancy of an artificial reef is in excess of 100 years. To be a total success the ultimate goal is to have the ship on the bottom in an upright configuration with diver friendly access holes to enhace diver safety and enjoyment. It has been proven worldwide that it will also benefit marine life in the area.

• Linwood H. Pendleton, author of “Creating Underwater Value: the economic value of artificial reefs for recreational diving”, states that “SCUBA diving at artificial reefs generates market impacts that help to sustain local economies and provide new tax revenues, especially in areas where scuba diving tourism draws out of town visitors. Artificial reefs offer economic benefits through the enhancement of shoreline protection, fishery resources and recreational fishing and diving opportunities”

We have had no response to date from:

• Ian Kiernan (Clean Up Australia)
• Paul Pearce (Member for Coogee)
• Waverly Council
• Woollahra Council