BUILDING a dolphin centre in the heart of the Port will help cement the area as a world-class tourist attraction, the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society says.

The society has called for the Cruickshank’s Corner interpretative centre for about five years but is renewing its push after the centre was omitted from the latest Port Adelaide Precinct Plan.

The centre – costed by the group at between $2 million and $3 million – would provide an internationally-renowned tourist attraction and include exhibits about how dolphins live and wharves for cruise operators and research boats.

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Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society Regional education and science manager Dr Mike Bossley said the centre would draw more visitors to the Port and boost the local economy.

“There’s nowhere where people can learn about them down at Port Adelaide,” Dr Bossley said.

“It could be internationally an important tourist attraction.

“I don’t know anywhere else in the world where dolphins are near the city all the time.”

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The society has called for space to be set aside for the dolphin interpretative centre in its submission to the Port Adelaide Development Plan Amendment, which details where buildings and services can go in Port Adelaide and New Port.

It says the centre could also include exhibition room, video feeds from underwater cameras and microphones, an office for Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary staff, space for the SA Museum’s activities with whales and dolphins and wharves for dolphin research boats.

The centre was first mooted in 2008 and was included in a 2010 master plan for the area produced by the Land Management Corporation (now Renewal SA) and Port Adelaide Enfield Council.

Plans were lodged with the State Government in 2010 but the plan was shelved following the termination of the Newport Quays consortium’s contract in 2011.

Society regional programs manager Declan Andrews said it was disappointing the centre was not included in the latest plan.

“It was initially, but because we have the community consultation process it lets us flag it as a concept that needs to be looked at,” Mr Andrews said.

“Where the funding comes from – the government or private developers – that’s been an area we’d look at as well.”

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The Port Adelaide Environment Protection Group used its submission to raise concerns about development along the Port River harming dolphins through noise and water pollution during construction.

Spokesman Tony Bazeley said the group was supportive of the idea of a dolphin interpretative centre but added it could also include information about the plight of the Port River.

Port Princess director Pauline Thomas said a centre for her boat and the Dolphin Explorer to leave from was a good idea.

A spokesperson for Renewal SA said while a location for a dolphin interpretative centre is not specified in the precinct plan, tourism related development was strongly supported, particularly at waterfront locations including McLaren Wharf and Cruickshank’s Corner.

Do you think the Port needs a dolphin centre? Leave your comment below.