Press Releases

Wednesday 16th Feb 2011

The Real Truth about the Adelaide Project

Sue Dengate, Central Coast Artificial Reef Project (CCARP)

 Unfortunately the good people of Avoca have been taken for a ride by the No Ship Action Group (NSAG) and its selfish agenda. NSAG
has scared honest people into believing that the Adelaide Artificial Reef is dangerous to the environment and therefore pollution
and they have done this by selective editing of various forms of information and using wild exaggerations. So please allow us to tell
you the REAL TRUTH!

  • It has been demonstrated in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT), a legal process that NSAG initiated, that the Adelaide will NOT be hazardous to human health or the ecosystems and that there is no risk of harm to local residents”!
  • AAT rejected NSAG expert’s evidence saying that one expert’s hypothesis was “verging on the fanciful”
  • NSAG went to the AAT with NO proof of their claims and on the first day had to drop all but 3 claims because there WAS NO evidence. In fact, their own expert retreated from some of his ‘assumptions’ when faced with the FACTS
  • All potential PCB carrying materials were removed prior to March 2010. A small positive testing (well below allowable limits) was detected and likely due to touching of a surface during removal
  • Extra cables were removed after March as the ship was lying idle and it was considered that if these were causing anxiety
    for residents then why not take to opportunity to remove them.
  • There is NO lead Carbonate on the Adelaide (this is the type that can harm children). The red paint on the Adelaide contains lead tetroxide and this does NOT go up the food chain.
  • The Adelaide is NOT a sister ship of other USA ships of the same class made in the States. The Adelaide, like all Australian ships build in the states must be built to Australian standards, using materials and paints that comply to our standards. This is why we stated that there was no lead carbonate aboard (it was tetroxide) and why there would be no PCBs in the paint.
  • NSAG’s USA experts, when giving their statements were relying only on WHAT THEY HAD READ that was sent to them by NSAG. They had not seen the ship until the first day of the Tribunal and given that their knowledge was only based on USA ships, it’s no wonder that they made outrageous claims.
  • NSAG often uses quotes from Professor Ian Goodwin, but they fail to give the whole story, instead choosing to ‘cherry‐pick’ parts of his report totally out of context and surprisingly leave out bits that are not favourable to their cause like “so I conclude that minimal impact of the ship on shorewards sediment transport is likely to occur within the Avoca embayment.”
  • NSAG claimed that the ocean currents would deposit debris on Avoca Beach. However, the drifting of the Adelaide site buoy graphically proved that the ocean currents move north from the site and not onto the shoreline of Avoca Beach.
  • NSAG claim that the Adelaide Artificial Reef will be the closest of its kind to shore. However, the Ex‐Perth in closer at 1.7 kms to the shoreline and the Adelaide site is at 1.84 kms
  • NSAG claim that whales won’t come to Avoca if the Adelaide is scuttled. However both the ex‐Perth and ex Swan (in WA) are in known whale migration areas and whales happily frolic around both sites and the Adelaide will not have deterrent ‘pingers’ installed as none of the other sites have these.
  • NSAG claim that the Adelaide is within the Avoca Bay (Bulbararing Bay). But if you look at the site on the map and draw a line from the Skillion to First Point you will find that it clearly shows the Adelaide site being WELL OUTSIDE the bay, particularly in comparison to the ex‐Perth which is inside its bay
  • Will it affect the ‘pristine’ Avoca Beach. Please Google Meelup Beach in WA, the closest beach to the Ex HMAS Swan. It is only 2.4 kms away from the Swan in a direct line and after 13 years their beach is about as pristine as you can get and guess what, it hasn’t had 5 metres of sand washed off it either!
  • The residents near the ex‐Perth and ex‐Swan are DELIGHTED to have them there. A surfboard manufacturer in Dunsborough, when asked if the Swan had any effect on the surf or beach said “Not a chance. It’s too far out and too deep. If anything it’s made it better, we have whale watching here, surfing and diving and it has got more people into the water.” So, why then can’t we on the Central Coast also have the same attitude? Residents and business owners enjoying the great benefits that the Adelaide will bring to the whole community.
  • In a radio interview on the ABC, Ben Smith from NSAG clearly stated “it’s not about pollution, I just don’t want the ship sunk there” So why is NSAG continuing to try and hood‐wink Avoca residents with their pollution scaremongering? Much public mischief has been caused by NSAG. When are they going to adhere to the findings of the Administrative Appeals

Tribunal which they initiated? People in Avoca should be asking, Wouldn’t it have been better to spend all this money on cleaning up the acidic soil from Avoca Lake ….why doesn’t NSAG care about that environmental problem? NSAG have taken money from people who in good faith donated to a flawed cause.

We have in the Adelaide an opportunity to create a wonderful marine park that benefits the whole community in so many ways, but especially as an educational resource in marine research by Ourimbah Uni. Already the Adelaide site is being used for one student’s Masters Degree in Marine Science. He began researching the site two years ago and this is a WORLD FIRST as no study has previously begun until after the reef is in place. Far from being pollution, the Adelaide Artificial Reef will become a marine wonder, bringing new marine life to the bare ocean floor and creating shelter for many species of marine life.

NSAG demonstrated in front of the Marine Discovery Centre when our local university was announcing a partnership to better understand and conserve our marine environment. NSAG did this because both the University and the Marine Discovery Centre see the real environmental value in the Adelaide project. NSAG’s behaviour is an embarrassment for Avoca and the whole of the Central Coast. We have all become a laughing stock to the entire Australian population because the inner core of NSAG have their own selfish agenda and it’s not about pollution!

“We would also like to re-affirm the ex-HMAS Adelaide’s motto”
“United for the Common Good”

 

For further information please call Sue Dengate on: Ph. 0417 028286

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