HMAS Darwin tipped for new dive site in Tasmania

A DECOMMISSIONED naval ship could attract 5000 people to the state if it is transformed into an artificial reef and dive site off the North-East Coast, the Break O’Day mayor says.

A DECOMMISSIONED naval ship could attract 5000 people to the state if it is transformed into an artificial reef and dive site off the North-East Coast, the Break O’Day mayor says.

The State Government has submitted a bid to the Federal Government to have the HMAS Darwin scuttled off the East Coast in order to serve as an artificial reef and dive site.

In late 2016, the Federal Government decided not to sink the HMAS Tobruk off Skeleton Bay near St Helens for the same purpose, opting to scuttle her in Queensland.

But now Lyons MP Guy Barnett has confirmed that a bid has been submitted to have the 138m HMAS Darwin, which was decommissioned in December, sunk off the East Coast as a tourism drawcard.

Break O’Day Mayor Mick Tucker said he had spoken to Mr Barnett.

The plan is for the ship to be sunk off Skeleton Bay, about 800m offshore and at a depth of 30m.

Project manager Peter Paulson said a rough costing to get the ship down from Sydney, prepared and sunk was about $6 million. There would also be a cleanup.

Sinking the ship to a depth of 30m would mean interstate divers would not be able to fly on the same day as a dive.

The State Government is pushing to have the HMAS Darwin scuttled off the state’s East Coast. Picture: AAP

Cr Tucker estimated 5000 people each year would dive at the site, boosting tourism in the area.

“They would spend two to three days in Tasmania because of the depth of water — that is more accommodation and meals,” he said.

“There are mountain bike trails, walking tracks, golf and game fishing here in Break O’Day too.

“We have Tasmanian divers but we want to bring mainland divers to the area to follow the East Coast dive trail where there are other wrecks ... down to Eaglehawk Neck.”

Cr Tucker said the Tobruk bid was poor, but believed this time around the submission had a sufficient business and environmental case. He said there would be an exclusion zone the size of a football field with marker buoys.

“It’s a barren piece of sand so it won’t interfere with any fish species,” he said.

A decision on the sale of the ship, which served for 33 years, may not be made by the Federal Government until the end of July.

Mr Barnett said the State Government strongly supported a bid for the ship to be scuttled off the East Coast.

“The Government has strongly supported a bid for the HMAS Darwin to be scuttled off the East Coast to create a unique tourism attraction,” Mr Barnett said.

“It’s only because we have the state’s finances under control that we can even consider making a bid for this unique tourism opportunity.

“Without wanting to prejudice any future negotiations, we’re open to considering all options to secure the HMAS Darwin for Tasmania.”

A decision on the sale may not be made until July.

The Darwin spent 33 years in service with the Defence Force.

It had sailed more than a million nautical miles around the world, taking in 50 countries and undertaking missions to the Middle East, East Timor and the Solomon Islands.