A diving platform that’s been a staple of a Northern Tasmanian community for over 70 years has been removed by Parks and Wildlife, causing widespread outrage from locals.
Pulse reported earlier this month that Beauty Point’s ‘Divo’ would be demolished over safety concerns.
Residents spotted workers removing the structure on Friday morning and by midday, it was gone.
The remove came after engineers inspected the platform in February and determined it posed an “unacceptable risk” due to its structural condition and lack of adequate water depth for diving.
Parks and Wildlife said various replacement options were considered before they ultimately decided that it was not safe to replace the ‘Divo’ with a similar diving structure or swimming pontoon.
A risk assessment found that a replacement structure would need to be in water at least 1.5 metres deep at low tide to be safe for diving.
This would place it 226 metres beyond the existing ‘Divo’ location, which would make it difficult to access in emergencies and “impractical for swimming”.
“This is not a decision based on cost of replacement but rather practicality and public safety,” a PWS spokesperson said.
“Both PWS and West Tamar Council acknowledge the Divo is of sentimental value and interest to the community, however there is no reasonably safe or acceptable alternative to replace the platform or to provide a practical swimming pontoon at this location.”
Local Labor MP Janie Finlay, who backed the community campaign to have the divo repaired and made safer in time for summer, called the decision “unbelievable” and “sneaky”.
Locals have taken to Facebook groups ‘Beauty Point Community Connect’ and ‘Save the Beauty Point Divo’ since Friday’s demolition to voice their anger.
“So long old friend, many good times,” one person wrote. “My 85yo father used the diving platform as a boy along… Next thing [they] will be closing the beach because the water is too cold for kids,” another commented.
“A very sad day, end of an era,” another local said.
