Minister hands over HMAS Perth to Albany Mayor

17/3/00
The State Government has formally passed ownership of the ex-HMAS Perth to the City of Albany to be sunk as a dive wreck and artificial reef.
In a ceremony today in Albany, Tourism Minister Norman Moore signed the Deed of Gift for the 133-metre former guided missile destroyer, officially handing it over to Albany Mayor Alison Goode.
The vessel will be sunk in King George Sound and will join the former HMAS Swan wreck at Dunsborough in drawing tourists to the extensive range of dive sites along the State's south-western and southern coast.
Albany was selected over five other WA coastal communities to be the ship's final resting place, following the City of Albany's submission to an independent assessment committee led by the Western Australian Tourism Commission.
Mr Moore said Albany had shown a comprehensive understanding of the financial, technical and environmental issues involved.
"The City of Albany has undertaken a significant financial commitment to cover the tow costs from Sydney and to fund the preparation, sinking and on-going maintenance of the dive wreck and artificial reef," Mr Moore said.
"Together with providing the Great Southern with a first-class dive attraction, the Albany community is working on plans to create an on-shore visitor attraction detailing the ship's history and providing a memorial for
the sailors who served on her."
The former HMAS Perth guided missile destroyer has a distinguished record.
Between 1967 and 1971, the ship completed three tours of duty with the US
forces off Vietnam. She came under fire on four occasions.
While preparations for cleaning and sinking the Perth are expected to take
up to two years, there has been significant interest in the vessel since her
arrival to Albany just after Christmas.
More than 500 people took part in guided tours over the ship during the
Labour Day long weekend.
"She has captured the interest of the local community and of people across Western Australia and even overseas," Mr Moore.
"These have included veterans visiting from as far away as Chicago and the
Philippines.
"Most share the feeling that she's found a rightful home here in Albany,
with its links with the Anzacs and Australian naval history."
He said that interest in the Perth had not been restricted to people taking part in the limited tours.
Members of the international dive community had been in contact with the
project team via the Internet to find out more about plans for the new dive
wreck.
The vessel will join the underwater seascapes found in King George Sound and
around Albany's offshore islands and reefs, home to an abundance of marine
life, including southern right, humpback and minke whales.
Mr Moore said the acquisition of the Perth for the State and the process to
award her to a suitable location was part of the Government's commitment to
providing new tourism infrastructure.

Establishment and maintenance of high-quality dive sites was also a key
part of the Government's nature-based tourism strategy.
"Dunsborough's Swan dive wreck and artificial reef has attracted more than
10,000 divers annually since its sinking in 1997," Mr Moore said.
"And more than 80 species of marine life have been attracted to this
artificial reef.
"We are confident the sinking of the Perth will have a similar effect."
He said Western Australia offered a year-round dive season.
"Owing to the size and span of this State, its pristine Indian and Southern
Ocean waters, and climatic variations, there is always an opportunity to
dive here," Mr Moore said.
"The Perth dive wreck will put Albany firmly on the map of premier dive
sites in the Southern Hemisphere."

Media contacts: Hartley Joynt, Minister's Office, (08) 93211444

Tamara Bowles, Western Australian Tourism Commission,
(08) 9220 1708