Yorke Peninsula Council will receive about $550,000 to install a new staircase with platforms for divers and snorkelers to improve access and visitor experience at the Edithburgh jetty.

Council was successful in applying to the Australian Government’s Growing Regions Program which provides funding to local government entities and incorporated not-for-profit organisations for capital works projects that deliver community and economic infrastructure projects.

Edithburgh Progress Association will contribute a further $10,000 towards the dive stairs project.

“The community of Edithburgh and surrounds, and the wider diving and snorkelling community in South Australia, has been excited for this project and we are pleased the successful funding has now been announced,” CEO Andrew Cameron said.

“The project will allow safe access to the water for all users and is also specifically designed to benefit divers and snorkellers who frequent Edithburgh jetty as one of Australia’s premier underwater ecosystems.

“Thank you to Council staff who developed this project with the local community and all residents and stakeholders who participated in that planning effort.

“We look forward to now delivering the project which will be a major upgrade for Edithburgh jetty.”

The dive stairs project was developed in collaboration with the local community and key stakeholders.

Consultation was extensive, and included a public co-design workshop held in Edithburgh in November 2022.

The project will create new access stairs on the north side of the jetty, replacing the former northern steps which were decommissioned after being irreparable since 2018, with platforms at different heights to allow easy access for divers regardless of the tides.

The stairs will sit atop a submerged cube structure featuring artificial reef panels to further enhance the underwater ecosystem and appeal to divers and snorkellers.

Edithburgh jetty is considered one of the best diving locations in South Australia, including being ranked first in the state by Diving Adelaide, for its diverse and rare marine life including the pyjama squid and leafy sea dragon.

This is a key reason the jetty is a major tourism driver for Yorke Peninsula, with more than 50,000 visitors per year, a number that grows almost 6% year on year.