The NSW government is giving one lucky resident of the Central Coast the opportunity to blow up a navy ship, despite vocal resident objection, as rumours abound in the local community that the President of the United States could drop by for the explosion.
Such is the level of interest and intrigue around the sinking of the HMAS Adelaide off the coast of Terrigal, 85 kilometres north of Sydney. The federal government has invested $5.8 million in creating the dive wreck and artificial reef, which is expected to net the local community $11 million annually in tourism benefit. But objectors say the ship is toxic and will be sunk far too close to shore, handing environment minister Peter Garrett another controversial decision.
The NSW Premier’s Department told Crikey they have no knowledge of any detour to the sleepy seaside township on the President’s planned Australian tour. But the Roads and Traffic Authority is closing several roads and VIP tents will be erected, with local council plans in place for up to 80,000 spectators — sparking the rumour mill in the community. One local business leader told Crikey a Presidential appearance was highly unlikely.
The HMAS Adelaide will be blown up on March 27 — the same day as Earth Hour, environmentalists point out. The President is expected in Canberra to address parliament on March 23 and while his itinerary after that remains a secret he’s unlikely to remain in the country until the weekend.
What’s more concerning to residents is the role the state government is playing in the event. It has been running advertisements in the local paper, the Express Advocate, and on local radio and television to promote its “Push the Button” competition. Media outlets will pick winners to watch the event from the VIP tent, with one person selected to pull the trigger (proceeds are being donated to the local surf lifesaving club and rescue helicopter service).
Michelle Meares, from the No Ship action group, believes the government’s zeal to promote the event and local tourism is suppressing information on the environmental damage the sinking will create.
“This is a major conflict of interest when every local media outlet is promoting this event of environmental vandalism,” Meares told Crikey.
Residents are concerned the 4000-tonne vessel will leak dangerous toxins and heavy metals into the pristine bay. The ship will also be sunk about 1.7 kilometres offshore from North Avoca Beach — the closest scuttled naval ship to the Australian shore.
“There was no environmental impact statement about this sinking,” Meares said. “Instead the government chose to take the route of preparing a Review of Environmental Factors which does not require community consultation. This review was only publicly released about four weeks ago — and only once the community put the pressure on.
“The Department of Defence is basically using our community as a dumping ground for their scrap metal — they are not allowed to dispose of these ships on land due to the toxic substances in the ship and size and they cost too much to retrofit them so they choose to dump it in the ocean and promote it as a tourist attraction.”
Peter Evans, the president of the Avoca Beach Chamber of Commerce, says the wreck will boost tourism but reckons the government has been “caught on the back foot” over the community outrage.
A spokesperson from the Department of Premier and Cabinet told Crikey there has been an “extensive, two-year consultation process” including “several advertised and well-attended public meetings… The hull of the ex-HMAS Adelaide was painted with an environmentally-safe paint, known as a self-polishing primer. It does not have TBTs [tributyl tin] or lead in it. To allay any public fears, independent tests were conducted by Airsafe, which confirmed there were no traces of PCBs [polychlorinated biphenyls].”
As for the competition? “This is about involving the community, and providing one person from the Central Coast with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to sink a ship,” the spokesman said.
The final decision rests — uncomfortably, again — with federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett, who must sign a sea dumping certificate. A ministerial spokesperson told Crikey the Department is considering the application which has yet to make it to the Minister’s desk.
The HMAS Adelaide was involved in the rescue of asylum seekers from the sunken SIEV 4 vessel in 2001 — the scandal that became known as the Children Overboard affair. Controversy will follow, it seems, to its ultimate seabed demise.
The NSW government is giving one lucky resident of the Central Coast the opportunity to blow up a navy ship, despite vocal resident objection, as rumours abound in the local community President of the United States could drop by for the explosion.
Sorry to put my pedant hat on, but this is really sloppy writing. The way it was written, someone could think “President of the United States” was a suburb on the Central Coast. You should add “that the” after “community”.
Interesting, a wide variety of former RAN vessels have been sunk as dive wrecks around Australia.
In no case has there been a negative reaction by the local aquatic life (or the local land dwelling kind either).
In each case, the dive wreck acts as a major fish attractor, boosting numbers of fish species in the vicinity of the wreck.
They also provide a significant boost to local maritime-related groups such as dive clubs and recreational fishermen.
As for Miss Meares comments, the ship could be disposed of on dry land, at a substantial cost premium, given the relatively low price on offer for scrap metal.
As for refitting them, Adelaide and her sister ship Canberra are both more than 25 years old and were judged to not be economically viable to be upgraded under the FFG Upgrage program currently being applied to their sisters Darwin, Sydney, Melbourne and Newcastle.
Given the intense competition by coastal communities for dive wrecks, the Central Coast was fortunate to be chosen as a venue for the scuttling of the former frigate, a $11m annual boost to the local economy is not to be sneezed at.
@Michelle Meares – Yeah hippie, go back to Woodstock if you don’t want to blow up anything. 😉
Not expecting an ecological problem myself. But locals might know more. Important not to interfere with local currents depending on depth and site as this changes beach and coastal erosion. Expect this is sorted.
No doubt it will increase fish habitat.
As for toxins as I understand the thing is the ocean is a corrosive liquid and likely to degrade most biochemicals at very low concentrations.
As far as PR controversy goes my reaction right or wrong, was that Tony Kelly, Lands Minister already had his Env Effects report and expert advice lined up, launched a story about it, in order to kick it over and grandstand with some PR for himself, at the expense of local uninformed folks.
In short sneaky ALP choreography. The NSW ALP really are that sick and cynical. Take the story about ozone pollution in undeveloped south west and north west Sydney last Monday in the SMH. Transparently a leaked report to smh and tame greenie leader at the same time, via Minister Sartor, in order to ramp up lead story today of complusory acquisition of land power for inner city intensification agendas. To deliver on big developer donations. That’s how it’s done, more fool SMH.
lets talk navy
the whole fleet is in at garden island
wouldn’t have anything to do with Dr Yudhoyono’s visit would it?
who ordered it? how much did it cost??
ed moran