A plaque commemorating three fatal shark attacks off the Dunedin coast will be unveiled at St Clair Esplanade next month.
Councillors at yesterday's community development committee meeting voted to accept the plaque, which would be added to an alcove at the Forbury Rd end of the Esplanade, near an existing shark bell.
A small unveiling ceremony was planned for August 12 and would be attended by family members of the victims and Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull.
The 400mm by 400mm black marble plaque was commissioned by Levin businessman Barry Watkins (56), who was a 16-year-old surfing near the St Clair salt water pool when attacked by a great white shark in 1971.
The attack was the last of five off the Dunedin coast in the 1960s and early 1970s, which some experts believed were the work of one rogue shark.
The attacks resulted in the deaths of Les Jordan at St Clair in 1964, Bill Black at St Kilda in 1967 and Graham Hitt at Aramoana in 1968. Surfer Gary Barton survived an attack at St Clair in 1969.
Council city development landscape architect Barry Knox told yesterday's meeting business owners and others consulted over the plaque supported the project.
That was despite a few reservations about the impact the plaque could have on the area's image, and the "emotive" language it used. "But overall, out of respect for the victims, there are very supportive," he said.
The plaque's wording commemorated the three victims who lost their lives after being "taken by the Great White Shark on our coast".
Yesterday's vote was the final step required to confirm the installation of the plaque.
