What Impact Will The Proposed Underwater Nightclub Have On Victor Harbor

A planned multi-million-dollar offshore aquarium off of Granite Island is being fast tracked with hopes of reviving the tourism region at Victor Harbor (ABC, 2015). While it is early days in the proposal, there is an air of confidence that the plan will precede if the community accepts the idea (Simmons, 2015). What impact will the proposed underwater observatory have on Victor Harbor? To assist with the research Simone from the Port Lincoln Swim with the Tuna observatory was contacted as well as Oceanic Victor and an interview was held with Ian Milne, the marine biology teacher at Victor Harbor High School. Research was also conducted at Granite Island. To guide the research, answers to these questions will be obtained. What are the positive

The current underwater observatory is at Port Lincoln and is six hours away from Adelaide; Victor Harbor is only an hour’s drive away. This is likely to bring more people down to Victor Harbor as it is easier to access than Port Lincoln, not many people want to sit in a car for six hours to go to one event (Simmons, 2015). Victor Harbor’s easy access will allow more people to come down and have a look around (Simmons, 2015). Simone states that she believes people will be attracted to the observatory if it was to be moved to Victor Harbor but that people from the Eyre Peninsula would not travel to Victor Harbor for the activity. Oceanic Victor believes the proposal fits Granite Island and if the offshore facility is working, it will have a flow on affect to other businesses. South Australian Tourism Commission’s Shaun de Bruyn said the Port Lincoln example proves there will be a flow on affect (Simmons, 2015). Increased tourism in Victor Harbor will create more employment opportunities in local shops, especially the hospitality area. More businesses will be attracted to the area while local shops will be able to open longer due to more people around (Victor Harbor Tourism Information, 2008). However, tourists can also have a negative impact on the Victor Harbor community. Some locals are anti-tourism because of the traffic congestion and parking difficulty during peak times. There may be damage to eco areas due to rubbish and inadequate sewerage systems. The taxi and medical services are stretched to the limit with the extra people, meaning not everyone will be able to take a taxi to or from the centre of Victor Harbor. They will either be stuck at home or stuck in the city centre until they are able to get a taxi. The medical facilities will be crowded and loud, as the