Protecting SA Shipwrecks
OverviewSouth Australia has a rich maritime history with more than 800 shipwrecks recorded along the coast and inland waters. The remains of these vessels are important educational, recreational and tourism assets. Shipwrecks are non-renewable heritage resources. They are time capsules revealing important information about the past and, as artificial reefs, they are fragile havens for a diversity of marine life. Once a wreck is damaged or disturbed, disintegration is accelerated and the asset is lost. Removal of wreck material and other disturbance are very real threats to the preservation of many of South Australia's shipwreck sites. Thoughtless probing and fossicking inevitably leads to extensive damage, depriving the site of its archaeological value and diminishing its potential for tourism and recreation. Approximately 70 of South Australia's shipwrecks are ships' graveyard vessels - deliberately abandoned on mudflats or at sea. These sites offer unique opportunities for study and recreational activities because of their relative accessibility to both divers and non-divers and because of the purposeful way in which they were scuttled. This accessibility however, also makes them more at risk from both accidental and deliberate damage. Legislation
Shipwreck legislation encourages responsible use of South Australia's historic wrecks. It benefits diving, fishing and tourism interests by ensuring that wreck sites and their associated marine life are protected for the future. Under the Commonwealth Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976 and the South Australian Historic Shipwrecks Act 1981 any interference with historic wrecks is prohibited. Wreck material must not be damaged, moved on site or taken from a wreck. Penalties for breaches of the Acts include confiscation of boats and equipment, fines and gaol terms. The Santiago (50Kb PDF), in the Garden Island Ships' Graveyard, is a declared Historic Shipwreck under the Historic Shipwrecks Act 1981. In 2005 this South Australian Act was amended to mirror the Commonwealth Historic Shipwrecks Act, enabling the protection of all shipwrecks over 75 years (timed from the wrecking or abandonment date). This amendment granted immediate protection to many ships' graveyard vessels, such as the Seminole, abandoned at Garden Island in 1909, and a former bucket dredge, grounded in Broad Creek in 1915. For other vessels the legislation provides a 'roll-on' or 'blanket' effect, with protection under the historic shipwrecks Acts automatically bestowed on the 75th anniversary of the official loss date.Some shipwrecks and their associated marine life may be protected under other legislation. There are special restrictions, for example, on activities associated with vessels within aquatic reserves, such as the Seawolf (50Kb PDF) and H.A. Lumb (50Kb PDF) at Port Noarlunga or the Garden Island, Broad Creek and Angas Inlet Ships' Graveyards which are within the Barker Inlet Aquatic Reserve. The ex-HMAS Hobart (50Kb PDF) at Yankalilla Bay has a restricted zone. Diver access is regulated and fishing prohibited. Role of the Heritage Branch
The Heritage Branch of the Department for Environment and Heritage is the government agency responsible for the identification, management, protection and promotion of South Australia's maritime and terrestrial heritage. The agency encourages the responsible enjoyment of shipwreck sites throughout the State and has produced a number of interpretive trails and publications which promote these valuable resources. The Garden Island Ships' Graveyard Maritime Heritage Trail and the Jervois Basin Ships' Graveyard Maritime Heritage Trail provide on-site interpretation at 2 of the ships' graveyard sites in Port Adelaide. They are complemented by the booklet Garden Island Ships' Graveyard and the brochure Port Adelaide Ships' Graveyards (1.5Mb PDF). The Shipwreck Guidelines brochure series, released in July 2002, contributes to the protection of shipwreck sites by educating boat operators and divers about appropriate, low impact behaviour when visiting these locations. Community SupportCommunity support is an integral part of the identification, promotion and protection of South Australia's shipwrecks. The Heritage Branch values partnerships with and the contributions of:
For further information contact the Maritime Unit, Heritage Branch. |
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| This page was last modified 2006-11-04 | ||
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