13/12/03
The State's most exciting new marine-tourism attraction, the $3.6million Busselton Jetty Underwater Observatory, is being officially opened at lunchtime today.
The observatory rests on the seabed eight metres below the water's surface at the end of the historic Busselton Jetty and is a window to the vibrant sea life and coral formations.
Tourism and South-West Minister Bob Kucera is representing the Premier at the opening.
"The State Government is proud to have contributed $1million toward developing the observatory, which makes the Busselton Jetty an even more attractive tourist destination," Mr Kucera said.
The State Government has also provided an additional $50,000 to support the marketing of the new attraction.
The Minister said the jetty currently attracted some 200,000 visitors annually and the observatory would bring even more tourists to Busselton - providing the flow-on effect of bringing more tourist dollars into the town and the region.
"Tourism is one of this State's economic drivers and nowhere is that more apparent at the moment than the South-West," he said.
The jetty has twice been threatened with demolition since it ceased operating as a port in 1973. Repair work began in 1988, when the volunteer Busselton Jetty Management Committee received the first of a number of grants for its preservation. It is the longest timber jetty in the southern hemisphere and is one of the South-West's most popular tourist attractions.
Underneath the jetty is a unique marine ecosystem which includes spectacular corals and more than 300 individual underwater species. The observatory has been built to take advantage of this environment and the most southerly soft coral formations in the world.
"The restoration of the Busselton jetty, development of the interpretive centre and the creation of the new underwater observatory have been driven by an active community and led by the late Mr Allie Scott, who devoted many years of his life to restoring the jetty," Mr Kucera said.
"The committee, with the support of the Busselton Shire Council, and the State and Federal Governments, has developed an asset of which the community can be rightfully proud."
Local MLC Adele Farina, who played a key role in securing additional funds for the entry building that sits above the observatory, said the facility was an exciting step forward for the region.
"It is a unique window on our beautiful and pristine waters here in the South-West and it will draw tourists, both young and old from all over Australia and the world," Ms Farina said.
The underwater observatory is the third stage of the development of the Busselton Jetty.
Commenced in 1988, the first stage comprises the ongoing maintenance and rebuilding of a structure that has suffered at the hands of fire and cyclone. The second stage involved the construction of the interpretive centre at the foot of the jetty.
Constructed by Doric and floated down to the site from Cockburn Sound, the observatory chamber is a 12m high concrete structure now located 100m from the end of the almost two-kilometre long jetty.
Minister's office: 9213 7000
