Official acceptance of former guided missile destroyer HMAS Perth, gifted by Commonwealth Government

28/12/99

Premier Richard Court has today officially accepted the former Australian Navy guided missile destroyer HMAS Perth, which has been gifted to Western Australia by the Commonwealth Government.
The Premier signed the 'deed of gift' at a ceremony in Albany, where the vessel had been towed after being decommissioned in Sydney. The State Government will formally handover the Perth to the City of Albany for use as a dive wreck and artificial reef.
Mr Court said the use of the HMAS Perth as a dive wreck would provide Albany with an added tourism asset.
"Albany is already a tourism 'drawcard'," he said.
"However, the Perth will offer a much sought after diving experience.
"Competition for the former guided missile destroyer was intense following the success of the HMAS Swan dive wreck off Dunsborough, but the Albany bid was identified by an independent panel as the best."
The Swan, which was decommissioned and sunk off Dunsborough two years ago, has become one of the State's great tourism success stories.
"In the first 12 months, Swan attracted at least 10,000 divers from all around the world, and built a reputation as the best dive wreck in the Southern Hemisphere," Mr Court said.
"The number of divers on the wreck is expected to nearly double this year.
"The regional tourism benefits have been enormous. Already, the Swan has been responsible for creating new jobs and generating an estimated $2 million in economic impact in its first year."
Mr Court said the Perth would be sunk in King George Sound. However ,the final location would only be decided after an environmental impact analysis and approvals from the relevant Government agencies.
Media contact : Casey Cahill 9222 9475