Adelaide sinking a State Significant Event

Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast and Member for Wyong, David Harris MP, said that the Government considered that the sinking was capable of major events status.

“This will give the Central Coast enormous media coverage and give the Adelaide Dive Site a big kick start,” he said.

As such, all State Government agencies are required to provide their utmost support and provide resources that will ensure its success and wide media coverage.

The event comes under the control of the Community Engagements and Events Division within the Premier’s Department. It is this Division that is responsible for many of the State’s major events including major Australia Day events, Sydney’s New Year’s Eve event and Breakfast on the Harbour Bridge. It is highly experienced in the running and organization of major events.

The plan is for the Adelaide to be towed from its present location at White Bay in Sydney Harbour, departing on March 22 and taking five days to arrive in its position 1.8 kilometres off North Avoca Beach, and be made ready for scuttling on March 27 (subject to weather conditions).

It is anticipated that a large fleet of craft will accompanying the Adelaide on its last voyage and remain in the vicinity for the time leading up to when the charges are detonated.

A spokesperson for the Department said, “This could well have Pasha Bulka interest. It will create a lot of interest and we expect a lot of people to want to view it.”


Events being planned

A number of organisations are involved with local events including a Beach Festival to be conducted on the day of the scuttling. The Central Coast Surf Life Saving Clubs are proposing to line the beach, from Avoca Beach to North Avoca, with around one thousand members. Rotary Clubs will provide food stalls and other activities for the event. All events will be family focused.

Transport agencies and Council are presently working on traffic management issues. It is proposed that a Park n Ride Shuttle Buses will operate to Avoca Beach.

It is understood that already charter boats are taking bookings for the event.

Central Coast media are participating in a joint competition which will see one lucky person get the opportunity to “push the button” and proceeds of this will go to charity.

An Official Ball at Crowne Plaza Terrigal will be held in conjunction with the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service.

Around two weeks after the scuttling of the ship, the inaugural Adelaide Ocean Swim event will be held which will be a major annual event for the Central Coast.

Within a few weeks it expected that marine life will start to form on the ship.

This has been the experience with the ex-HMAS Brisbane which was sunk off Mooloolaba two years ago.

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