April 2010 Cover Story

In taking a Not-In-My-Backyard approach the people of Avoca Beach have allowed a tiny minority of trouble makers lead them by the nose.

To say they knew nothing of it is obviously a big fib.

Or, of course, as many have said, because it is off Terrigal somewhere between Wamberal and The Skillion it can contain all the environmental hazards in the world and we don’t care.

Plainly the No Ship group is a highly professional organisation because they know how to start a protest movement, how to get their point of view into the media, knowing our Central Coast media will never doubt them, and then how to get into court at the last minute to get a Stay on the sinking.

The issue is no longer the location of the ship but an environmental issue, with selected green environmentalists providing the spin for the media.

The Central Coast Artificial Reef Project (CCARP) have been seeking a ship for a dive site for ten years and this has been supported by the University of Newcastle.

It isn’t just a tourist attraction although as such it will bring into the Coast’s economy around $10 million per year at least.

Environmental groups have had every chance to protest over many years about their concerns as the Navy gifted these ships to various states around Australia for similar activities.

They apparently have had no grounds to do so.

On the subject of marine research Professor Stephen Crump, Pro-Vice Chancellor and Director of The University of Newcastle’s Central Coast Campus said, “We need this project to drive world class teaching and research for sustainable environments and to build and grow our community as a knowledge culture, as well as the employment and tourism opportunities.”

Commenting further, Dr David Powter from the School of Environmental and Life Sciences at the University of Newcastle’s Central Coast Campus said, “The ex-HMAS Adelaide artificial reef is an exciting project for the Central Coast. The environmental impacts have been rigorously assessed by qualified and respected marine scientists who are satisfied that it is an environmentally friendly project and I fully support those findings. I believe the artificial reef will actually provide environmental benefits to the Coast and I am excited about the research opportunities it offers. Apart from this, the ex-HMAS Adelaide artificial reef will be a significant educational asset, especially for marine science and ecology students at the Ourimbah Campus of the University of Newcastle, as a living underwater laboratory.”

Meanwhile with the matter now before the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (a quasi court) with a hearing scheduled for early May there is every possibility that the No Ship people will present legal arguments that could well ambush the defence lawyers.

Commercial reality says never go to court if you can possibly avoid it.

However, in the end it is apparent that the people of Avoca Beach have succeeded in unifying the whole Central Coast.

The scuttling of the Adelaide was to be a significant state event and thousands of people were expected to line the foreshore and beaches to see her go down.

Local Rotary Clubs and many other charity groups invested tens of thousands of dollars on t-shirts, food and other souvenirs which has been lost.

Local retailers had also stocked up for the big occasion and accommodation houses had been booked out for months in advance.

In addition many of the crew who had served on Adelaide were coming from all parts of Australia, many spending their last savings, to attend the scuttling and have a reunion.

The event had also drawn divers from many parts of Australia and around the world. One group, from Argentina, had planned to stay a month and be the first to dive on the new site.

On Friday 26^th March, one day before the event, CCBR set up a i-petition website http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/yes_to_scuttling_the_ex-hmas-adelaide/

This has resulted in over 1,300 signatures most with comments supporting the scuttling of the Adelaide and also showing their support for the Central Coast region.

 
Rally shows depth of feeling

A rally of over five hundred people turned up at The Haven at Terrigal on the Saturday of the planned scuttling to show their support and were addressed by our political leaders.

Mayor of Gosford Chris Holstein, Member for Robertson, Belinda Neal, Member for The Entrance, Grant McBride and Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast and Member for Wyong, David Harris all turned up and spoke in support of the Adelaide with the exception of the Member for Terrigal, Chris Hartcher.

There is no doubt that this event has concentrated the minds of the people of the Central Coast on what they want for the region.

back