22/11/02
For the first time Australia and the world will be able to access the stunning marine environment beneath Busselton Jetty in the comfort of their home or office.
Thanks to the Water Corporation's MarineCam - launched today by Government Enterprises Minister Nick Griffiths, armchair divers need only log on to a new website - http://www.watercorporation.com.au to view stunning shots of marine life.
Mr Griffiths introduced MarineCam at the Western Australian Museum, almost 200km from the location of the sub-sea camera, which is attached to a pylon three metres below the surface at the end of the famous Busselton Jetty.
The Minister said there were two reasons why the Water Corporation had installed the highly-innovative camera which was recording dazzling pictures of the world below Busselton's premier tourist attraction.
"The Government wanted to show the world exactly why the ocean around the jetty has become one of WA's top dives sites and at the same time graphically demonstrate that Geographe Bay is clean and full of healthy marine life," Mr Griffiths said.
"Many people may not realise there is a complex marine ecosystem living beneath the jetty, but now they can view it from the comfort of their armchair."
The Minister said the project was an innovative way to help demonstrate the results of the Water Corporation's hard work, particularly in the areas of ocean outlet monitoring and wastewater management practices.
"The Water Corporation is keen to demonstrate that its activities do not have an adverse impact on the environment," he said.
"As an example, through the last decade PLOOM - Perth's Long Term Ocean Outlet Monitoring Program - has confirmed that there has been no adverse effect on Perth's coastal environment as a result of ocean disposal of treated wastewater.
"In Perth alone, a further $1million will be spent over the next three years to continue long-term scientific monitoring.
"In the South-West, the waters of Geographe Bay benefit greatly from the corporation's Environmental Improvement Initiative to support land-owners in tackling the principal sources of nutrient flow to the bay - local farms.
"About 40 projects have been funded so far under a $1million, five-year program."
Mr Griffiths said trials undertaken during the past months had demonstrated the success and popularity of MarineCam to the extent where the corporation was now looking at webcams at ocean outlet sites to be even more transparent in its wastewater operations.
The MarineCam images are transmitted by radio using solar power. Underwater lighting for night viewing has also been planned. The camera itself is about the size of a finger, set inside a pipe containing cabling.
A second webcam sits inside the Busselton Jetty Visitor Centre providing a live 'above ground' view along the jetty.
Mr Griffiths said that MarineCam was a further development of a program which began last summer with the introduction of The Ocean Discovery Van.
"This joint initiative between the corporation and AQWA has resulted in a mobile education van visiting beaches during the summer to deliver information about protecting our coastline and offer free activities for primary school children to reinforce the conservation message," he said.
Minister's office: 9222 8950
