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NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT: The Landline crew - camera operator Greg Ashman, reporter Prue Adams and sound technician Tony Hill - interview Whyalla Mayor Lyn Breuer (second from right) at the foreshore.
Whyalla will be in the national spotlight again next month when the ABC’s Landline goes to air.
The Landline crew was in Whyalla recently to film a story on the giant cuttlefish aggregation and the positive impact it is having on the city as a tourist attraction and environmental reminder.
Along with going for a dive herself, Landline reporter Prue Adams interviewed Whyalla Mayor Lyn Breuer and the Whyalla fishermen and divers who made the stand against fishing for the remarkable creatures that led to a complete ban on their capture.
TAKING THE PLUNGE: The Landline crew prepares for a snorkel to see the giant cuttlefish.
Landline is the nation’s premiere agricultural television program beamed across the country on Sunday afternoons and online. While the giant cuttlefish gathering in Whyalla isn’t necessarily an agricultural story, it was a yarn Prue couldn’t resist and fits in with Landline’s regional focus.
“It is such a unique event, it was a story I was personally very keen to do and an experience that was on my bucket list,” Prue said.
“It is different to the regular farming stories but it is a positive story about a regional city and what this influx of visitors means for the area and the community.”
With more than 700 people booking in for the inaugural Cuttlefest snorkels, and many more going out privately or with the Whyalla Diving Service, it is estimated more than 2000 people will have paddled out to see the cuttlefish by the end of the season in mid August.
PUTTING US ON THE MAP: Landline reporter Prue Adams interviews Whyalla Mayor Lyn Breuer.
Whyalla Mayor Lyn Breuer said Cuttlefest 2018 and continued community buy-in to promote and protect cuttlefish was creating many exciting opportunities for the city.
“We are seeing more and more people coming to Whyalla to see the cuttlefish and this is being reflected in a real spike for the local economy when it comes to accommodation, hospitality and many other shops and services,” she said.
“Cuttlefest 2018, and all the work that has come before it, is starting to create a real tourism feature in Whyalla that has more and more people jumping on board.
“It has been recognised by the Eyre Peninsula Natural Resources board (EPNRM) which has invested more than $200,000, on a dollar for dollar basis with the Council, to help build new amenities at Stony Point with more infrastructure to come.
“EPNRM and the Experiencing Marine Sanctuary group were also the driving force behind Cuttlefest 2018 with Council proud to be the major sponsor.
“We are establishing a tourism feature in our town that is going to create more and more opportunities along with a real buzz.”
Prue said the buzz was noticeable as she and her crew filmed the Landline story and stayed for two nights in Whyalla.
“There must have been 40 people out there when we were there and there was a real good vibe,” Prue said.
“We met families from Adelaide, a marine ecologist who had come all the way from Scotland and everyone seemed so knowledgeable, appreciative and excited at what they were seeing.
“It is such a unique experience and so accessible, you can literally walk out into the water and see the cuttlefish right there.
“We stayed for two nights, ate at local pubs, went to local shops, so I think there is a lot of potential there for Whyalla and the city really seems to be embracing it.”
The edition of Landline featuring the Whyalla cuttlefish story is scheduled to run on Sunday, August 5 at 12.30pm on ABC TV and will also be available on ABC iview.
READ MORE ABOUT CUTTLEFEST
http://www.whyalla.sa.gov.au/page.aspx?u=730&c=63843
CAMERA AND ACTION: The Landline film crew shoots footage for the upcoming feature on Whyalla's cuttlefish.