PREMIER Will Hodgman is pushing for Tasmania to receive decommissioned naval ship HMAS Tobruk for scuttling, urging the federal government to gift it to the state.
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He told Defence Minister Marise Payne in a letter Tasmania could not afford the costs of scuttling due to budget pressures, but would benefit from tourism to the dive wreck.
The naval vessel is available to states and territories on the condition they pay for costs of preparation for scuttling.
Mr Hodgman’s involvement adds momentum to the push for the ship, which could go to Queensland to become a dive site.
If successful in its bid, Tasmania would scuttle the ship at Skeleton Bay, near St Helens and use it as an artificial reef to attract diving tourists to the state.
The East Coast is the sixth most tourism-dependent region in the country, Mr Hodgman told Senator Payne in the letter.
“The HMAS Tobruk being added to the suite of attractions to this region would be a major boost to the vital tourism industry in regional Tasmania,” he said.
Every other state had benefited from federal gifting of decommissioned naval vessels, while Queensland had received two.
“I encourage similar treatment for Tasmania,” Mr Hodgman wrote to Senator Payne.
It is understood Mr Hodgman also raised the HMAS Tobruk with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s office.
A proposal commissioned by Break O’Day Council and supported by the state government found the wreck site would increase tourism to the region.
The wreck would transform Skeleton Bay into a world-class dive destination, the proposal said.
“The development will provide a vital boost for the local economy through sustainable increased tourism visitation to the area while also creating a new and protected habitat for local marine species.
“It will also establish Tasmania’s first ex-naval vessel artificial reef, bringing the state into a national ‘dive trail’ of highly sought-after ex-naval vessel diving experiences across Australia.”
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The site would also alleviate the impact of tourism drop-offs in the winter, as diving conditions were best in the cooler months, the report said.
It would bring a minimum of 5,000 interstate and international tourists each year, according to Break O’Day mayor Mick Tucker.
“We need all of Tasmania to embrace the concept,” he said.
“This is really a project that benefits all of Tasmania.
“We need to put our hands up and scream blue murder about making our case.
“If Tasmania doesn’t get one gifted, as every other state has, I would say that is a case of discrimination against Tasmania.”
Tasmanian Scuba Diving Club’s Andrew Greenhill said it was in favour of anything that would attract more interest in diving and exploring Tasmania’s marine environment.
“A wreck of this calibre sunk at St Helens would be an enormous attraction to diving in the area,” he said.
“St Helens already has some amazing dive sites that would complement the diving on the wreck.
“Tasmania was one of the first states to sign up to federation. It is disappointing that Tasmania is going to have to pay for the preparation when all other states have had the expensive task of preparing the dive wreck paid for by the Commonwealth.”
Lyons MHR Eric Hutchinson said the requirement for states to pay for scuttling should be introduced after Tasmania has received the same economic benefits from a gifted decommissioned vessel as other states had.
“I don’t think we’re asking for anything more than every other state has already had.
“All we’re asking for is to be on a level playing field with states that have benefited from wrecks.”
He would continue to advocate within the federal government for the vessel to come to Tasmania.
While the Defence Department hadn’t wanted to gift the HMAS Tobruk, Senator Payne had stopped it from being sent for scrapping, Mr Hutchinson said.
However the proposal for states to pay for scuttling was problematic, he said.
Each of the six established Australian artificial reef sites is now a thriving aquatic habitat that hosts diverse marine life, attracting scuba divers and other visitors and creating significant economic and tourism benefits for local communities, Break O’Day Council’s business proposal said.
“The importance of this cannot be overstated as this additional visitation will have a direct, positive impact on local businesses,” it said.
Negotiations over the ship are expected in June.
Senator Payne did not respond to questions from the Sunday Examiner.
