THE first components of the artificial reef will be dropped into the ocean today, promising permanent change to the Macquarie Coast.
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The barge containing the reef was towed across the Hastings River bar yesterday, but the reef set-up could not begin because of poor weather.
It will be constructed at a depth of 46 metres roughly six kilometres east of the bar using two cranes and numerous marine vessels.
Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair was in town for yesterday's deployment and said fishing was one of Port Macquarie's most popular recreational activities.
"That is why it is so important we invest in infrastructure and programs to support this critical sector," he said.
The $900,000 project has been paid for using funds generated through licensing fees, which has those in the fishing community angling to cast off soon.
"It's a terrific idea and one that's well looked forward to by plenty of people around here," Jason Isaac from Ned Kelly Bait 'N' Tackle said.
"It's great to see our licence fees used on projects like this, and it'll be interesting to see how [the reef] will develop out there."
The DPI's Dr Heath Folpp said changes could start to be seen within weeks as settlement species arrive.
"But it will take two-to-five years for the reef to really mature," he said.
Baited underwater video, surface-deployed cameras and acoustic telemetry will be used over the next three years to monitor the impacts of the reef's fish attracting devices.
"We want to know if it's looking natural down there, then we want to know if there are things like debris that might pose a risk to the environment," Dr Folpp said.
While the reef has a "finite holding capacity," the fishing community will be anticipating seasonal changes that could create "big booms," Dr Folpp said.
Port Macquarie MP Leslie Williams said the reef's installation will support the region's booming tourism industry.
The reef's centre point's exact coordinates are 31°25.044'S (latitude) and 152°58.950'E (longitude).