The new Australian Underwater Discovery Centre (AUDC), which is to be built at Busselton, Geographe Bay in Western Australia, is set to become the largest marine observatory in the world.
As well as attracting visitors and being a key tourist attraction in the region, the centre will act as an international marine research hub for scientific research.
AUDC will be developed on the existing Busselton Jetty Underwater Observatory. The original observatory opened in 2003 but was only able to accommodate 44 visitors every hour. The new site will be designed to enable large numbers of visitors to enjoy the experiences simultaneously, as well as providing more extensive research facilities.
Richard Coutts, who is involved in the project, said: “The goal is to promote the education, awareness and monitoring of the jetty’s immediate marine environment and the wider environs of Geographe Bay.”
AUDC is poised to open by the end of 2022. It is expected to attract more than 900,000 visitors by the end of 2023.
