City of Greater Geraldton staff recommend councillors vote in favour of Francis St site for Yellow Submarine

City of Greater Geraldton councillors will vote on a new home for the renovated Yellow Submarine next week after a recommendation from executive staff called for it to be based near the Eastern Breakwater Jetty.

A site selection study completed by the city has resulted in a recommendation to place the submarine on the roundabout in the Francis Street carpark, near the Eastern Breakwater Jetty.

In an official document from the city, it recommended that councillors vote to accept ownership of the submarine as a gift from the Rotary Club of the Batavia Coast, then place it at the Francis Street site.

The restoration of the submarine cost about $30,000, but the city has recommended an allocation of $80,000 for its installation.

The site selection study investigated four potential locations for the submarine, including 440 Roadhouse, the Eastern Breakwater Jetty, Stow Gardens, and the site of Sail Inn where the sub was formerly located.

Recommendations to place the sub at the Francis Street carpark were backed by pre-existing CCTV and lighting, a strong connection to maritime industry, good visibility, active tourist foot traffic, and ease of installation.

Potential cons for the Francis Street site include disruptions to visual harmony, isolation on a traffic island, exposure to marine corrosion, existing signs needing to be relocated, and the smell from a nearby fish filleting station.

The site study said: “With ample parking available, it has already become a popular spot among Geraldton’s locals and tourists, including overnight caravan parking bays. Its proximity to the port and wharf fosters a sense of connection to the maritime industry.”

“Existing infrastructure, including lighting, CCTV, picnic tables, and barbecues, is already in place. It can also be seen by tourists accessing the new jetty located nearby.”

The city lists cons for the other sites as a lack of lighting and CCTV, limited accessibility and audience, and disrupting the view of the ocean.

Supplementary sites listed in the study but not investigated in detail include Pages Beach, Bob Davies Park opposite Point Moore Lighthouse, and the front garden of the Geraldton Museum.