Shoalhaven is set to become the State’s latest recreational fishing hotspot, with the final location for the South Coast’s first offshore artificial reef unveiled yesterday by the NSW Minister for Primary Industries, Katrina Hodgkinson, and Member for Kiama, Gareth Ward.
Ms. Hodgkinson said the South Coast artificial reef will be located about four kilometres offshore from Shoalhaven Heads, or about six kilometres from Crookhaven Heads.
“ This exciting project will lure fish, recreational anglers and tourists to the South Coast, providing a welcome economic boost for the region,” Ms. Hodgkinson said.
“ The reef will feature 30 to 50 giant concrete modules, which will form a series of clusters about 30 metres below the surface of the water that will create the reef. Final environmental approvals are still being obtained, it is expected the reef will be deployed in October this year.”
Ms Hodgkinson said the reef will cost about $900,000 to construct and is a great example of how the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government is reinvesting funds from the sale of the NSW Recreational Fishing Fee into projects which directly benefit recreational anglers.
“The South Coast offshore artificial reef is one of two the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government has announced since the deployment of the popular Sydney reef, the State’s first, in 2011,” Ms. Hodgkinson said.
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Press Release, May 6, 2014