Frigate sinking approved

By TONY GEE

WHANGAREI - The Northland Regional Council has given its consent for the former Navy frigate Waikato to be sunk for use as an artificial diving reef off the Tutukaka coast.

The Waikato, now being stripped and cleaned at Opua in preparation for sinking later this year, is owned by Tutukaka Coast Promotions, which applied to sink the 113m vessel 4km south of the Tutukaka Harbour entrance.

Regional council consents manager Dave Roke said the society's application attracted 17 submissions in support and three against. The opposing submissions were resolved by negotiating conditions to protect the marine environment and the consent was processed without need for a formal hearing, he said.

Consent conditions require the Waikato's owners to remove all oil and other contaminants from the vessel. They also require removal of any material which could break loose during or after the ship's sinking.

There are also strict controls relating to public safety issues on the day the Waikato is sunk.

The 2200-tonne frigate is about twice the size of another former naval vessel, Tui, which was sunk as a dive attraction last year, 3km north of the Tutukaka Harbour entrance.