Gold Coast tourism: $5m funding deal for Gold Coast dive site to open in 2021
The Gold Coast will finally have a world-class dive attraction after a decade of false starts and dashed hopes, with a multimillion-dollar deal to be announced. Here’s when you’ll be able to dive it.
Gold Coast
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THE Gold Coast will finally have a world-class dive attraction after a decade of false starts and dashed hopes.
The council and State Government will this morning announce a $5 million deal for an artificial site to be built 2.5km off Narrowneck, 1km east of the Scottish Prince wreck. Construction is expected to start either late this year or early 2020 and finish in mid-2021.
The council and State Government will tip in $2.5 million each.
Tourism Minister Kate Jones said the project, first proposed 10 years ago, would be a major boon for the city’s economy and attract new visitors.
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“Diving is growing in popularity worldwide,” she said. “We know that having another world-class attraction will attract more visitors to the Coast and help to grow the tourism industry.
“The government will partner with Gold Coast City Council by providing funding to construct an artificial dive attraction that is both world-class and innovative and will be located offshore, just 2.5 kilometres from Main Beach.”
The Federal Government had offered a decommissioned Royal Australian Navy frigate as a dive site centrepiece, but the State Government considered the cost too high.
The project will create 18 jobs during construction and 82 positions once completed. It is expected to bring an extra 16,000 people to the city annually, injecting $2 million into the economy.
The dive site location is considered ideal because it is easily accessible to tourism operators year-round.
The boat journey from inside the Broadwater to the Narrowneck site takes just over 25 minutes. The short trip means dive operators will be able to take multiple tour groups daily.
The massive structure will be sunk at a depth of 30m, with its highest point just 8m below the surface. This will allow both experienced divers and novices to enjoy the attraction.
The first stage will either be a dome-like structure or a pyramid. Further stages will include an underwater cemetery and concrete garden.
Mayor Tom Tate said the site’s final design would be determined in coming weeks.
“The city has closed its expressions of interest campaign on this project and we hope to announce a successful design-and-construct contractor next month,” he said.
“The aim is to have this new tourism asset installed by June 2021, ready to welcome divers from around the globe.’’
The current dive market is limited primarily to southeast Queensland enthusiasts because the Coast has lacked a major attraction. However, the new dive site is expected to lure interstate and overseas visitors.
Dive the Gold Coast owner Ian Banks said the new attraction would offer exciting opportunities for the industry.
“With a purpose-built structure it will encourage the marine life to hang around,” he said.
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