Funding boost for South-West dive wreck

9/5/03
The State Government has given Bunbury's tourist industry a boost after committing substantial funds toward the sinking of the Lena dive wreck off the city's coastline.
South-West Minister Jim McGinty today announced a $100,000 grant, made through the South-West Development Commission, to the Bunbury Dive Wreck Association to enable the group to sink the Russian-registered ship.
"The wreck will provide a welcome tourism boost for Bunbury," Mr McGinty said.
"It has been estimated the Lena will generate some 10,000 dive visits during its first year and inject around $2.4million in tourism spending in the Bunbury area."
The wreck will form part of the West Coast Dive Wreck Trail, which will extend from Geraldton to Albany and have both national and international appeal.
The Lena is a long-line fishing vessel which was impounded by the Australian Government after being intercepted by the Australian Navy in December 2001, after illegally catching Patagonian tooth fish.
The vessel was acquired by the Bunbury Chamber of Commerce, with the support of the South-West Development Commission, at the beginning of 2003 for use as a dive wreck.
Bunbury Chamber of Commerce executive director Alan Birrell said the funds meant the ship was well on its way to becoming one of Bunbury's foremost tourist attractions.
"This funding will enable us to place and sink the ship which will become a mecca for divers who visit the South-West," Mr Birrell said.
"It will also provide an enormous injection of funds into the local economy."
The vessel has been relocated to Bunbury and is currently berthed in the city's outer harbour.
A considerable amount of equipment has been salvaged from the vessel and sold as part of the fund raising to cover the $200,000 cost of the sinking.
Minister's office: 9220 5000