❓ Hon Adele Farina questions the Minister for Culture and the Arts regarding the protection of shipwrecks in Koombana Bay, Bunbury, specifically concerning lot 883 Koombana Drive and the application of relevant legislation. The Minister's response clarifies the extent of protection and offers a briefing.
AnsweredQoN 169Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
KOOMBANA
BAY SHIPWRECKS — BUNBURY
169. Hon ADELE FARINA to the
minister representing the Minister for Culture and the Arts:
(1) Has the
Western Australian Museum conducted any survey of lot 883 Koombana Drive,
Bunbury, to ascertain whether any of the 12 known Koombana Bay shipwrecks or
artefacts from those shipwrecks are located at lot 883?
(2) Is it the
case that 10 of the 12 known Koombana Bay shipwrecks are protected sites and
have been since the provisions of the Maritime Archaeology Act 1973 came into
force?
(3) What
protection is afforded to these shipwrecks under the act and what additional
protections may have been provided if the Governor had made a formal
declaration under section 9(1) of the Maritime Archaeology Act?
(4) Are any of
the 12 known Koombana Bay shipwrecks protected under the federal Historic
Shipwrecks Act 1976?
(5) Will the
minister table the close-plot water probe survey of lots 881 and 882 Koombana
Drive and any report resulting from the survey works; and, if not, why not?
BAY SHIPWRECKS — BUNBURY
169. Hon ADELE FARINA to the
minister representing the Minister for Culture and the Arts:
(1) Has the
Western Australian Museum conducted any survey of lot 883 Koombana Drive,
Bunbury, to ascertain whether any of the 12 known Koombana Bay shipwrecks or
artefacts from those shipwrecks are located at lot 883?
(2) Is it the
case that 10 of the 12 known Koombana Bay shipwrecks are protected sites and
have been since the provisions of the Maritime Archaeology Act 1973 came into
force?
(3) What
protection is afforded to these shipwrecks under the act and what additional
protections may have been provided if the Governor had made a formal
declaration under section 9(1) of the Maritime Archaeology Act?
(4) Are any of
the 12 known Koombana Bay shipwrecks protected under the federal Historic
Shipwrecks Act 1976?
(5) Will the
minister table the close-plot water probe survey of lots 881 and 882 Koombana
Drive and any report resulting from the survey works; and, if not, why not?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice
of this question.
(1) A desktop
survey was conducted. No physical survey has been undertaken to date, as lot
883 is behind the original beach line and unlikely to reveal any shipwreck
material. Furthermore, the original assessment commissioned by the City of
Bunbury related to lots 881 and 882 only.
(2) No. The
Maritime Archaeology Act 1973 protects only shipwrecks and related material
dating from 1900 and earlier. Only one wreck on site was found to satisfy this
condition. Many of the other wrecks will have been destroyed through natural
degradation processes and mining for mineral sands over many decades
previously.
(3) Any
shipwrecks or associated material from pre-1900 are automatically protected
under the act. Declaration of a protected zone would have not afforded any
significant additional protection.
(4) No. This act
refers only to material in coastal waters below the low water mark.
(5) I am happy to
arrange a briefing for the member.
of this question.
(1) A desktop
survey was conducted. No physical survey has been undertaken to date, as lot
883 is behind the original beach line and unlikely to reveal any shipwreck
material. Furthermore, the original assessment commissioned by the City of
Bunbury related to lots 881 and 882 only.
(2) No. The
Maritime Archaeology Act 1973 protects only shipwrecks and related material
dating from 1900 and earlier. Only one wreck on site was found to satisfy this
condition. Many of the other wrecks will have been destroyed through natural
degradation processes and mining for mineral sands over many decades
previously.
(3) Any
shipwrecks or associated material from pre-1900 are automatically protected
under the act. Declaration of a protected zone would have not afforded any
significant additional protection.
(4) No. This act
refers only to material in coastal waters below the low water mark.
(5) I am happy to
arrange a briefing for the member.
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