Weather scuttles bid to sink ship

Jessica Benton
A forecast of rough weather has scuttled plans to sink a warship off Barwon Heads this weekend.
Tourism Victoria said on its website that “high winds and waves” had forced the scuttling to be postponed.
“While this is disappointing, the safety of all involved is our first priority and in predicted weather conditions, it would not be safe to scuttle the vessel,” Tourism Victioria said on its website.
The scheduled scuttling had been promoted to residents and visitors as a public spectacle on Saturday.
The delay is the latest setback in plans to sink the ship off the Bellarine Peninsula to create an international diving drawcard in the region.
The Independent revealed in 2007 that the state’s diving industry wanted the ship as a dive site to offset the impact of State Government’s dredging of shipping channels in Port Phillip Bay. The industry feared dirty water from the dredging would drive away divers.
Wrangling between state and federal governments over the costs of transporting and decommissioning the ship further held up the project.
Victorian Artificial Reef Society president John Lawler said the decision to postpone the scuttling was disappointing but bad weather was unavoidable.
“It’s disappointing it can’t happen this weekend but all the statements have said the scuttling would be subject to suitable weather,” he said.
“Unfortunately, there’s a lot of work that has been put into the day that will now have to be postponed, including contractors, tugs and shipping.
“It’s a difficult time for weather, especially down on the coast.”
Mr Lawler said the eventual scuttling would be a “win-win” for the environment and diving businesses.
He predicted an injection of between $1.5 and $3 million for the region’s tourism economy.
HMAS Canberra would be the “centrepiece” to make Victoria a world-class dive location, he said.
The location off Point Lonsdale is about 500 metres from a popular existing J-4 submarines dive site.
HMAS Canberra has been at Geelong Graincorp Wharf since mid-2008 for work to prepare if for sinking.
Tourism Victoria said the scuttling would be rescheduled to a date with suitable weather “as soon as possible”.