Support for reef project
LOCAL business has thrown its support behind plans for a multi-million dollar artificial reef south of the Gold Coast that politicians say could rake in millions through tourism.
The NSW Government yesterday announced the $1.1 million project, off the coast of Tweed Heads, designed to foster growth in the marine ecosystem offshore.
Tweed MP Geoff Provest said the exact size and location of the reef would be decided following an extensive community consultation and tender process. He said he hoped the project would be complete by the end of 2019.
“There are a lot of reefs off the Tweed and this will create a newer reef that will attract a lot of the species people look for – snapper, mulloway, kingfish,” he said.
“They have holes in them where sealife, plant life and marine life can propagate and in turn, attract larger species.
“I think it’s a real plus for the local environment.
“Very shortly, tender documents will go out and there will be a very extensive community consultation allowing all people in our wider community to have their say.”
Yesterday’s announcement comes only weeks after the Tweed Shire Council quashed a proposal for a multi-million dollar surfing reef south of Fingal Head.
Tweed Chamber of Commerce president and local councillor Warren Polglase said any new tourism attraction, like the reef project announced by the NSW Government yesterday, would find support among the business community.
“If we can attract more tourists ... it’s something we would appreciate,” he said. THERE’S plenty of fish in the sea and there are plenty of Kiwi Fish and Chips stores on the Gold Coast.
What started as one little shop is soon to be a five-store empire, making owner Melissa Doull one of the busiest women in town.
“I’d work about 70 hours a week – so 70 hours, five stores, two kids and 30 staff,” she said, laughing.
“Everyone thinks I’m crazy.”
With locations at Helensvale, Broadbeach, Labrador, Carrara and soon, Coomera, Mrs Doull and her husband have started a Kiwi empire.
“It’s definitely a sevenday-a-week thing. All other commitments go out the window,” she said.
“We’ve been offered the sixth store but I’m not sure if we’ll do that.
“It’s all about the team. I couldn’t do any of this without the team.
“If I could get another whole good team together, I’d do six and a food truck.”