An environmental assessment has been completed in accordance with Part 5 of the Environmental Planning & Protection Act 1979. The assessment considers a variety of short and long term issues associated with the sinking of the ship. The environmental assessment is comprehensive and looks at potential impacts as well as measures that can be taken to aid colonisation and ensure the artificial reef is a success.
Issues considered include:
- The physical characteristics of the seabed
- Coastal and oceanographic processes
- Flora and fauna impacts
- Navigational safety
- Water and air quality issues
- Noise and vibration impacts
- Visual and aesthetic impacts
- Socio-economic impacts, including recreational and commercial fishing, surfing, boating etc
- Areas of cultural or historical importance
- Benefits to the Central Coast regional economy from increased tourism and
- Operational feasibility and diver safety and amenity
- Completion of the environmental studies and scuttling of the ex-HMAS Adelaide will also require approval from the Commonwealth Government under the Environmental Protection (Sea Dumping) Act 1981 with the long term management an integral part of this application.
The assessment can be downloaded here (PDF documents - you will need a pdf reader):
