Divers protest at Halifax Park dive reef

By Damon Cronshaw

Divers held a protest dig at Port Stephens yesterday to express their anger at a lack of action from authorities to save the Halifax Park dive reef.

The site, one of Australia’s top diving locations, has become smothered with sand. Port Stephens Pro Dive Shop owner Chris Norman said about 50 divers dug a channel and shifted sand from the site.

‘‘It was an effort to show [Port Stephens] council that people are interested in this problem,’’ Mr Norman said.

Mr Norman said the dig was ‘‘more symbolic than anything else’’.

‘‘Council hasn’t been doing enough; all they’ve been doing is complaining they haven’t got any money,’’ he said.

‘‘There’s a lot of interest from divers, a lot of interest from fishermen, but there doesn’t appear to be a whole lot of interest from council.’’

Port Stephens Mayor Bob Westbury said the council was working to tackle the problem, which would include moving the sand.

‘‘The National Parks and Wildlife Service and Marine Parks Authority have been putting a block on it,’’ Cr Westbury said.

‘‘On Friday, they decided to let us do it.’’

Cr Westbury said the council had ‘‘wanted to do it long ago’’.

‘‘Now all the planets have lined up, we can work on it flat chat,’’ he said.

‘‘We may not have lots of money, but we’re making sure this is a priority.’’

Mr Norman said the dive site was ‘‘probably the best shore dive in Australia’’.

‘‘It’s a pristine environment with beautiful sponges and fantastic fish life,’’ Mr Norman said.

‘‘The sand is burying the sponges and the fish have disappeared.’’

Sand was shifting west from Shoal Bay Beach to Halifax Park and Little Beach

 

Ryan Osland

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