MIDS REEF MOVES,Reef vote for perfect waves

Plans for an artificial surf reef at Middleton Beach will go before a City of Albany committee meeting tomorrow night, with overwhelming public support for the project revealed.

The works and services committee will vote on receiving a business case for the reef, created by Keston Technologies, which predicts an $18 million boost to the economy should the project go ahead.

The committee will also vote on whether the City should begin advocating for funding for the project, slated for the coast at what is locally known as Surfer’s Beach, near Albany Golf Club.

A City of Albany survey completed this year found 90 per cent of the 732 respondents supported the construction of an artificial surf reef at the site.

It is expected the artificial reef would create a consistent quality wave appropriate for holding events at State, national and international levels. The reef has also been flagged to provide a significant tourism drawcard in Albany’s winter season.

The report suggested Albany could become a surfing hub in the long term.

Construction of the reef, which still requires council approval should it pass tomorrow’s committee meeting, is predicted to start in April or May, 2019, with a com-pletion date flagged for January, 2020.

It is also expected the artificial reef would create more than 180 jobs in the construction stage, as well as long-term because of tourist spending.