Divers' Rapid Dissent

Newcastle Herald

Monday October 31, 2005

By DAMON CRONSHAW

NELSON Bay scuba divers say a proposed State Government licence fee on their sport is unjust and impractical.

The Government wants to create a diving licence fee of $6 for three days, $12 for a month, $30 for a year and $75 for three years.

It has released a discussion paper with options for the fee's introduction.

The fee would either hit all divers paying to dive in any NSW waters or only those diving in critical habitats.

Pro Dive Nelson Bay owner Chris Norman said the fee would be a "silly tax".

Mr Norman said it would be the beginning of taxes on all types of sport and he believed his business would suffer if the fee were introduced.

Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald said the proposed fee would be similar to the recreational fishing licence established in 1998.

Mr Macdonald said he had the support of "senior diving industry representatives".

But Pro Dive instructor Shane Murtagh said many divers were unhappy about the plan.

There are 10 grey nurse shark critical habitat sites in NSW, including one at Little Broughton Island, off Port Stephens.

A discussion paper released by the Government said fishing posed the greatest threat to grey nurse sharks, but scuba diving may have an effect through repeated visits, anchoring and flash photography.

The Government will accept submissions about the fee until December 1.

© 2005 Newcastle Herald

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