SA Election 2018: Opposition Leader Steven Marshall announces $5 million for new reef and beach protection

THREE new artificial reefs would be built along the state’s coastline to help fishos hunting whiting, snapper and southern calamari under a Liberal Party campaign pledge.

THREE new artificial reefs would be built along the state’s coastline to help fishos hunting whiting, snapper and southern calamari under a Liberal Party campaign pledge.

Opposition Leader Steven Marshall on Sunday announced $4 million in measures to protect South Australia’s unique coastline and improve water quality in Gulf St Vincent, as well as $1.2 million building three new artificial reefs in city locations yet to be determined.

Mr Marshall said the reefs would be in places easily accessible to many of the state’s quarter of a million fishers and open up new tourism opportunities for SA.

The decommissioned HMAS Hobart is a recreational dive site near Yankalilla. Picture: Seven News

“Artificial reefs have been a huge success in other jurisdictions and South Australian anglers and their families should have the same opportunities as those in other states,” he said.

“These new reefs will help grow our recreational fishing sector which will benefit local businesses like our tackle and bait shops which is great news for our economy and jobs.”

Mr Marshall also committed an extra $4 million for coastline protection.

The scuttled HMAS Hobart off the coast of Rapid Bay.

The cash would be spent on sand replenishment and research into new methods other than pumping and carting, development of new wetlands and the restoration of seagrass meadows.

A State Government spokeswoman said Mr Marshall’s announcement was “welcome”, but also a “smokescreen attempt” to avoid discussion of Liberal plans for fishing in marine parks.

“The Liberals have spent the last three years promising the commercial fishing industry they would allow them to operate in what are essentially underwater national parks,” she said.

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