Debris from the dumped warship HMAS Adelaide collected on Avoca Beach after the big swell over the weekend (Feb 23 & 24, 2013). This marine pollution was sanctioned by the Minister for Environment Tony Bourke, Barry O'Farrell, Chris Hartcher, Gosford...

Debris from the dumped warship HMAS Adelaide collected on Avoca Beach after the big swell over the weekend (Feb 23 & 24, 2013). This marine pollution was sanctioned by the Minister for Environment Tony Bourke, Barry O'Farrell, Chris Hartcher, Gosford Council and John Asquith from the Community Environment Network, University of Newcastle and the Marine Discovery Centre. Taxpayers paid $10 million to dump this rubbish next to this beautiful beach.

Much more is washing up, this is just what one person collected on their morning walk on Saturday. When the same honeycomb aluminium started washing up on Avoca Beach six weeks after HMAS Adelaide was dumped in April 2011, Les Graham from Terrigal Dive identified it as the interior walling from the ship.

Hopefully the State Govt and the diving community will take some responsibility in the long term for cleaning up the debris released from the wreck - it is dangerous for marine life, swimmers and surfers. The community of Avoca should not have to be picking up the mess as the ship breaks down and washes up on the beach over the coming decades

Some of the money from the diving permits and dive fees should be put into a fund to clean up the mess. To deliberately dump the ship in such a high swell environment was totally irresponsible and the government and local organisations who supported it need to take responsibility for the clean up as time goes on and the wreck inevitably breaks down into the surrounding marine environment.

For more pictures and community’s response check out No Ship on facebook
http://www.facebook.com/pages/No-Ship/158050544229141?ref=hl

7 years ago
On Wednesday April 13 all levels of government sold out Avoca Beach by dumping a 4000 tonne warship covered in lead paint in the bay. Despite repeated requests from the community they refused to test the paint for highly toxic polychlorinated...

On Wednesday April 13 all levels of government sold out Avoca Beach by dumping a 4000 tonne warship covered in lead paint in the bay.

Despite repeated requests from the community they refused to test the paint for highly toxic polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) despite them being present in the paint of the Adelaide’s sister ship.

Chris Hartcher and Barry O'Farrell put a price on the peace of mind and health of the local community, beach and marine environment.
Shame Shame Shame!

8 years ago

The day Chris Hartcher dumped on Avoca

The Habitat Advocate
13-4-2011
(click title to read article)

8 years ago

Sinking of HMAS Adelaide to go ahead

The Age Newspaper 10-4-2011

The NSW government will not be “spooked” by community groups when it comes to the scuttling of the HMAS Adelaide, Premier Barry O'Farrell says.

Mr O'Farrell said the scuttling of the ship, which is due to happen on Wednesday after it is towed out of Sydney Harbour at dawn on Monday, will go ahead on the previous government’s timetable.

Click here to read more..

8 years ago

Call to stop scuttling as sister ship breaks up

image

By Andrew West
page 2 Sydney Morning Herald
9-2-2011

CENTRAL COAST environmentalists have called on the state government to abandon its plan to scuttle the decommissioned warship HMAS Adelaide off the coast of Avoca after Victorian authorities warned that a sister ship, also decommissioned and scuttled, was now breaking up.

Parks Victoria has reported that a helicopter hangar on the port side of HMAS Canberra, which was scuttled for divers near Barwon Heads less than 18 months ago, “has separated from the main superstructure”.

A statement posted on the Victorian government agency’s website said: “As a result, the frames and plating on the port side are moving 30 mm vertically and 150 mm horizontally, which may pose a hazard to divers in this area as the structure may move unexpectedly.”

It further warns: “There are a large number of loose items in the lower deck and midships areas of the vessel, including lockers, cabinets, panelling and ducting. This may pose a danger to divers from items moving/falling and blocking access points especially on the lower starboard side of the vessel.”

The Canberra was sunk in December 2009 in 28 metres of water 2.3 kilometres offshore for use as an artificial reef.

The No Ship Action Group at Avoca said structural problems could be common to both vessels.

“They have basically identical design and features,” the group’s spokeswoman, Michelle Meares, told the Herald.

She said the Canberra has already tipped from an angle of 3 degrees to an angle of 22 degrees. “When it gets to 27 or 30 degrees, it will likely tip over and not be able to be used as a diving wreck.”

According to a Parks Victoria source, fibreglass insulation, foam insulation from wall and ceiling cavities, panelling and other debris is floating in the bay or has washed onto the beach.

The action group also warns that not only will the Adelaide be sunk closer to shore - 1.6 kilometres - it will be in rougher seas than the waters off Point Lonsdale. Ms Meares said the swell off Avoca regularly reaches 4-5 metres, while the Canberra has experienced only 3 metre swells and still broke up.

The office of the NSW Minister for Planning, Tony Kelly, did not respond to the Herald’s inquiries.

Source: Sydney Morning Herald 9-02-2011

9 years ago