the JOHN HARDING

Shown is Coffs Creek which spills into the northern side of the harbour carrying periodic unknown toxic properties that, (in my un-scientific opinion), is the reason the entire northern side of Coffs Harbour is an underwater desert. A second creek (not shown) further north might also be the culprit.

Coffs Harbour is two islands with man-made quarried stone break walls. A timber jetty was constructed to export other timbers. Today the jetty is retained as a tourist facility.

**Pig Island** is .65 of a kilometer offshore from the southern break wall. It is a polluted marine location, not seriously by world standards. The ‘health’ of the small kelp forest here would be a reasonable guide.

A recent relocation of the town’s sewage outlet, further south, should offer positives visual changes to the underwater reef at Pig Island.

These pictures were taken in 1986 and are shown here for the first time. There’s much underwater interest and research happening in the Coffs Harbour area today. These pictures may serve some purpose if Pig Island has suffered any noticeable ill effects. Pig is a small rock island just offshore from the boat harbour, it just misses being included in the Solitary Island Marine Park zone.

The Solitary Islands further offshore are a vastly different-looking underwater location with corals and tropical species mixing with southern varieties and seaweeds.

On the island, a view back toward Coffs Harbour

The southern extremity of corals on Australia’s east coast is within the Solitary Islands Marine Park off Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, and further north.

Offshore is the boundary between The Coral Sea and The Tasman Sea

Between Middleton Reef (which is in The Coral Sea) and Lord Howe Island which is in The Tasman Sea.