The Victorian Artificial Reef Society Inc
Opportunity to Boost Tourism in
Victoria
Victoria is currently competing with other states to secure the ex-HMAS
Canberra for scuttling as a new artificial reef. This is a
wonderful opportunity to boost tourism by attracting divers from around
the world and establishing Victoria as a world class temperate water
diving destination.
The HMAS Canberra is long range
escort frigate that previously undertook roles including area
air-defence, anti-submarine warfare, surveillance, reconnaissance and
interdiction as part of Australia’s Defence Force. The ship was
decommissioned in November 2005 and has been offered by the Federal
Government through the Minister for Defence, Dr Brendan Nelson, as a
suitable wreck for sinking as an artificial reef. This
vessel will make a world class dive site that will attract divers both
from interstate and internationally.
The Victorian Artificial Reef Society Inc. is a community group that
was formed early in 2006 with the initial objective to secure, prepare,
position and scuttle the ex-HMAS Canberra as an artificial reef and
scuba dive location in Victorian waters. All major groups in the
Victorian Scuba Diving Industry have recognised VARS as the voice on
all matters relating to official Artificial Reefs in Victorian waters
and are completely in support of the project. VARS is also being
actively supported by State and Federal parliamentarians Martin Dixon,
Greg Hunt, Stewart McArthur and Lisa Neville.
From an environmental point of view, it is well established that such
wrecks greatly enhance the local environment by providing shelter for a
large number of organisms and rapidly establishing a viable and diverse
marine ecosystem that can be preserved for a very long period of time.
Internationally this is now a well accepted practice that is widely
viewed as both the most environmentally responsible solution as well as
a valuable addition to the local tourist economy.
The waters of Victoria, and in particular around Port Phillip Heads,
are home to an amazing diversity of marine life. Many of the
species are unique to these waters and are not found anywhere else in
the world. The addition of the Canberra as a new artificial reef
will add to the recently proclaimed marine parks as a further boost to
the environment.
There will be a major boost to tourism if Victoria is successful in its
bid. In recent years, a number of ex-naval vessels have been sunk
as artificial reefs both in Australia and overseas. In all cases,
tourist numbers have increased with the new dive site acting as a
magnet for divers both nationally and internationally. And
– of course the actual sinking is a great tourist attraction just
on its own!
VARS is currently working with the Victorian Government to obtain the
ship from the Commonwealth. The decision as to which state will
get the Canberra has yet to be made. But VARS is doing its best
to make sure that the Canberra will be sunk in Victoria. Once
this is achieved VARS, together with the dive industry, will drive to
ensure that this great opportunity benefits both Victoria and Australia
with significant ongoing tourist development using this ship as the
centrepiece to a new world class temperate water dive destination.
For further information contact
John Lawler – President – Victorian Artificial Reef Society
Inc
Telephone: (0414) 922 916
Note: John Lawler is on leave from
16th July
Additional Contacts
- John Allsop – Vice-President –
Victorian Artificial Reef Society
- Telephone: (03) 9397 5066
- Mike Reed – Committee member
- Victorian Artificial Reef Society
- Telephone: (0418) 144 084