Weipa Marine and Boating Group secretary Dave Donald inspects one of the 28 reef cages that will be placed as part of Weipa’s eco reef. Photo: Supplied.
Interested fishers are being invited to attend a meeting on Wednesday night (11 June) to receive an update on the artificial reef planned for the waters off Weipa.
The Weipa Marine and Boating Group (WMBG) will host the meeting at the Albatross Bay Resort at 7pm to provide information about the 28 reinforced steel cages, which were surplus to the construction of the Archer River bridge, that will form the basis of the eco reef structures used to establish a new fishing ground offshore from the Red Cliffs, approximately 15 nautical miles south-west of the Embley River mouth.
Reef expert Matt Moore from Catchment Solutions has been engaged to manage the project, and has prepared a schedule of works that includes a comprehensive timeline to complete the reef deployment.
The establishment of the eco reef is an initiative of the Western Cape Chamber of Commerce, with funding based on an environmental offset levy resulting from dredging of the Amrun mine shipping channel by Rio Tinto.
WMBG secretary Dave Donald said the project also had the potential to provide training opportunities and wins for local businesses, and urged locals to attend the meeting to discover the full scope.
“If you’re interested in being involved in this exciting project and want to know more, don’t miss Wednesday’s meeting at the Alby,” he said.
