The Marine Recreation Association was formed on 21st April 2007 to represent the interests of boating, fishing and diving enthusiasts. While the initial focus of the group is about issues concerning the Gold Coast and Brisbane regions, it is planned that branches of the Association will be established statewide and eventually nationally.

An artificial reef sub committee was formed at the same time to research the methods that have been used around the world to construct artificial reefs. There are many artifical reef success stories in Australia and other countries and expert opinion has been obtained that supports the benefits that they offer.

With more boats, more fishermen and a growing interest in diving, artificial reefs offer the one and only opportunity to expand our natural resources and guarantee sustainability in the future.

Keith Douglas diving at Cook Island - photograph Ian Banks ©

The Gold Coast City Council twice refused an application by Council Officers for $10,000 (reduced from their initial request of $43,000) to enable a study of artificial reefs with a view to then making recommendations for reef construction. Given that the Gold Coast area has a billion dollar marine industry and the highest boat ownership per capita in the southern hemisphere, the Councillors who voted against this proposal do not fully appreciate the benefits that artificial reef programs could offer to the Gold Coast community and economy.

Councillors Critchlow, Douglas, Young and Betts supported the motions that were defeated. One Councillor described this outlay as a "luxury" item. Cr Betts has since advised that the item is now recorded as being approved in the Council Minutes through what seems to be an administrative error.

Clearly our Association has a lot of work to do to achieve a better understanding of the benefits that are available through reef programs. With 100,000 dives already on the HMAS Brisbane, politicians on the Gold Coast should be bending over backwards to get artificial reef programs up and running to attract overseas divers to our area and help stimulate our local economy.

Governments need to invest in artificial reefs and understand that they are an essential part of tourism infrastructure. Hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent on advertising programs that have only achieved mediocre results. Just a small part of that spending on artificial reefs would enable the creation of tourist attractions that will last beyond our lifetimes and provide in time a better return on investment.

We greatly appreciate the work of Paul Burt and his colleagues at Channel Nine and Gold Coast radio station Hot Tomato in promoting the benefits offered by artifical reefs.

Narrowneck Reef click here for information on the history

The primary purpose of the project was to widen and protect the northern Gold Coast beaches from erosion in storm conditions. As this is a popular surfing area, the secondary objective was to improve the surfing amenity - but it did something else - seaweed and kelps began to grow on the geo textile bags and a whole new habitat has formed demonstrating very clearly that artificial reefs are great for the environment.

Artificial reefs are being constructed worldwide for environmental, commercial and recreational reasons, with the reef at Narrowneck being used as a model for the eco-engineering of multi-functional artificial reefs. Narrowneck reef has shown that soft non-woven geotextiles [used for the mega “sandbags”] creates a substrate for the growth of soft marine flora such as seaweeds and kelps that provide a productive habitat - See attached paper presented in Lisbon a few years ago. Diving and fishing have proven to be very popular at Narrowneck [far more than expected] and the suggested extension of the reef seaward into deeper water would further improve the amenity. An underwater video of Narrowneck can be downloaded from http://www.coastalmanagement.com.au/projects/NGCBPS/default.htm#Video

Click here to view Angus Jackson's letter in full

Click here to view the Lisbon conference paper

Click here to visit International Coastal Management's website

---

Ian Banks has developed a wonderful photographic display of the sea life at Narrowneck Reef. Click here to go to Ian's web page where you can view his images properly.

 

Ian's contribution to diving on the Gold Coast is worthy of special mention. His collection of photographs and videos is outstanding and he has done much to create awareness of one of the best kept diving secrets - The Seaway. Click here to visit his web site

21st May 2007. Keith, I support your efforts to commence an artificial reef program. The Gold Coast has been successful in promoting its self as a place to relocate to for lifestyle. Boating is a huge part of this and the number of boat owners is increasing at a rapid rate causing a situation to develop that needs to be addressed in a proactive manner. That is the pressure on the fish stocks is increasing and we should pre-empt this by commencing the process of installing artificial reefs before they become an urgent need as has resulted with other infrastructure items such as water and roads. Once approval for this process is achieved then a gradual and well planned reef system instalment can commence. If done in this manner we can reduce negative impacts on the environment from rushing and proceed with consultation from all relevant sources to produce a successful system. Other advantages of adding reef structures: Increased locations for boat owners to visit for fishing or diving Increase in the economic viability of these activities for tourism Adding scuba diving sites would enable promotion of the Gold Coast as the ideal all round holiday destination and ideal for a dive holiday. Regards Ian

---

above is extracted from a letter of support - click here to read Dr. Thomas Stieglitz's letter in full

Click here for information about Dr.Thomas Stieglitz

---

Click here to read Dr. Stephen Smith's letter in full

Click here to go to the website for National Marine Science Centre

Dr. Stephen Smith

Dr. Stephen Smith is an Associate Professor at The University of New England, based at the National Marine Science Centre, Coffs Harbour. Steve’s research focuses on the assessment and monitoring of marine life in coastal habitats and, in particular, on developing reliable, biodiversity-based methods for conducting rapid assessments of their health.

Nearshore reefs provide important amenity for a range of users, but are also the first diverse marine habitats to be affected by urbanisation of adjacent land; these reefs are therefore a key focus of current research.  Steve is leading a team that is assessing the health of subtropical, nearshore reefs between Port Macquarie, NSW, and the Gold Coast.  The research is providing some of the first information on the marine communities of these habitats and is also assessing current levels of human impact.  Surveys conducted to date have allowed the team to develop survey protocols that ensure that reefs are monitored effectively and have also identified important management issues for some reefs.

Steve has conducted a number of research projects on Gold Coast reefs in the past.  These include evaluations of the biodiversity of Narrowneck Reef artificial reef, and baseline surveys of the marine biota associated with reefs offshore from Palm Beach as part of an assessment of the impacts of beach nourishment works.

---

Click here to read Dr. John Thorogood's letter in full

Dr. John Thorogood is the founding Principal of frc environmental, a consultancy specialising in aquatic biological resource and environmental assessment and management.

John has specialised skills in fisheries science; aquatic environmental assessment, management, planning and monitoring; aquatic biological surveys; ecosystem studies; and aquaculture. He has well-developed leadership, organisational and team building skills, as well as practical field and laboratory expertise and experience. Using these skills, John has undertaken a variety of projects in Australia and overseas, and has developed and presented a range of courses at tertiary institutions in Australia and government agencies overseas. John has lead project design and review missions for AusAID; and frequently provides expert witness under a range of jurisdictions.

Click here to go to the frc environmental website

---

Artificial reef success story - Cochrane Reef
- constructed by Bundaberg & District Artificial Reef Association Inc.

Click here to go to their site

---

http://www.devoceandive.com.au/

Click here to view the letter of support in full

---

Fishing media personality, Dave Downie
Channel Ten News
Talk Radio 4BC
Courier Mail
Bayside Bulletin
Albert & Logan News
Bush 'N Beach magazine

www.nuggetfishing.com.au

- extract from Dave Downie's letter of support is below

South East Queensland has the highest percentage of boat owners in Australia, is the centre of Australia’s marine boat building industry and the Gold Coast features one of the safest ocean bars in Australia.

The potential to develop our shallow offshore waters as a world class tourist attraction is enormous.

Gold Coast dive instructor Ian Bank's underwater photos and videos of the Southport Seaway have proven that, given some artificial structure, the Gold Coast waters will attract a rich mix of marine life that would in turn attract tourists from around the world.

Artificial reefs off the Gold Coast are not a problem, they are a solution that will attract and benefit the entire community and increase the Gold Coast's appeal as a world class tourist destination.

Click here to view Dave's letter in full