Straight to point on dive site plan

MAYOR Tom Tate is powering ahead with his ambitious plan to create a pyramid dive site off the Gold Coast and is already setting up a panel of experts to nut out the design details.

The project has been welcomed by the State Government with Tourism Minister Kate Jones offering to tip in half the estimated cost of $5 million and last night, Ian Banks, one of the city’s leading dive figures, threw his weight behind the project.

Cr Tate said a working committee was being set up with the State Government’s Department of Innovation and Tourism Industry Development, council’s Infrastructure Directorate, key representatives of the city’s dive and marine industries, as well as marine engineers.

He confirmed the City would pursue a design-construct project for the artificial dive attraction in response to the Gold Coast losing the HMAS Darwin to Tasmania.

“The initial structure will be a pyramid design, first mooted by council in 2014, and council will need to vote on the final design and funding model,” he said.

“In the lead up, the City will consult with the dive industry to finalise which features a pyramid structure would require to attract marine life and the interest of divers.”

Cr Tate said the pyramid would be the first installation in a broader, artificial dive precinct.

Other structures to be added to the site could include