Iconic Darwin tourist attraction Indo Pacific Marine in battle to find new site
The battle to save the iconic Indo Pacific Marine tourist attraction appears to be lost with owner Jon Ostara saying it is looking more and more likely the unique living coral exhibit will be returned to the sea next month.
Northern Territory
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THE battle to save the iconic Indo Pacific Marine tourist attraction appears to be lost with owner Jon Ostara saying it is looking more and more likely the unique living coral exhibit will be returned to the sea next month.
Mr Ostara, who has to vacate his current Wharf Precinct site, said attempts to find a new site for the tourist attraction had been futile.
He said he had looked at a number of options but none so far had amounted to anything.
Mr Ostara said he was open-minded to a suggestion from some in the tourist industry that the NT government should relocate Indo Pacific Marine to the Museum and Art Gallery of the NT to give the government-run facility a new tourist attraction.
Mr Ostara conceded it would be a good fit.
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“Yes, it would give it something new and fresh, but I don’t think they have the money to do it,” he said.
“I don’t think they would do it and I have an uphill battle with them.
“We shouldn’t lose the attractions the city has … the city dies. People will come to Darwin and only see hotels.”
A spokeswoman for Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics Minister Eva Lawler said the discussion between the NT government and Indo Pacific Marine have been underway for some time.
She said relocation options were being discussed.
The spokeswoman said no proposal to move the business to the Museum at Bullocky Point has so far been made during the discussions.
The spokeswoman said discussions had been around what is required to relocate the marine life and facilitating potential opportunities with other private proponents to enable preservation of the legacy of Indo Pacific Marine as a tourism attraction.
“The owners of the business have had considerable time to explore alternative opportunities,” the spokeswoman said.
“The NT government has indicated its willingness to assist with reasonable costs for removal of the aquatic life so that the site is vacated by the end of August.
“As a government we will continue to support our local businesses through a wide range of programs, we will also continue to have discussions with Indo Pacific Marine about how their exhibits may be used in the future.”
Originally published as Iconic Darwin tourist attraction Indo Pacific Marine in battle to find new site
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