Long term wreck management

HMAS Adelaide Reserve

Where is it?

The Ex-HMAS ADELAIDE Reserve is located on the NSW Central Coast in the Gosford Local Government Area. The current extent of the reserve is shown here.

It includes Crown land below high water mark within Bulbararing Bay out to the 3nm limit of State waters (approximately 1500ha) in an area between Broken Head (and Terrigal Haven) and the southern end of Avoca Beach.

Dive sites including The Skillion Cave and Fifeshire Reef are located within the reserve boundaries, as well as the recreational fishing sites of The Pips and Avoca Reef. Whilst the reserve is extensive, it is intended to reduce the extent of the existing reserve to the area (still to be determined) that will be subject to ongoing, active management.

Reserve Purpose

The Ex-HMAS Adelaide Reserve was gazetted under the provisions of the NSW Crown Lands Act 1989 on 20 June 2008 for access and public requirements, tourism purposes and environmental heritage and conservation. It will house the wreck of the US built Ex-HMAS ADELAIDE, which was a long-range escort frigate. Permission has been granted from the US Government to use the ship for the purpose of a dive wreck.

The reserve was gazetted to enable preparations to commence for the scuttling of the Ex-HMAS ADELAIDE and to provide a legislative basis for managing the future dive site (i.e. as a Crown Reserve managed under the Crown Lands Act 1989).

Reserve Management

The Land and Property Management Authority (LPMA) has responsibility for the administration and management of all Crown land in NSW including commercial leasing and licensing activities.

The ocean bed out to the 3nm limit of State waters is Crown land and the foreshores adjoining the Ex-HMAS ADELAIDE Reserve are Crown Reserve (including foreshore land around Terrigal Haven). As such, LPMA is responsible for the preparation and implementation of the Ex-HMAS ADELAIDE Reserve Plan of Management.

The Crown Lands Reserve Trust (CLRT) was appointed as the Trust Manager, with all revenue associated with the Ex-HMAS ADELAIDE Reserve to be allocated to the CLRT.
Proposed management arrangements are as follows:

The trust to be administered by the Lands Administration Ministerial Corporation (a statutory body representing the Crown) which would have overall management responsibility for the wreck.
Outsourcing of commercial management arrangements including management of the wreck as a tourist attraction, booking, permitting and franchising.
Leasing/ licensing of commercial moorings and provision for dive clubs and other bookings.
The nearby Terrigal Haven (which provides boat launching facilities and therefore access to the Ex-HMAS ADELAIDE Reserve) is part of the Gosford Regional Crown Reserve and is managed by Gosford City Council under a separate Plan of Management.

Plan of Management

The HMAS Adelaide Reserve Plan of Management (2.32 mb) sets the framework within which the reserve will be managed. It was prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Crown Lands Act 1989 and under the direction of a community Reference Group and Interagency Steering Committee.

The plan of management clearly sets the goals for the reserve as:

To provide a world-class, challenging, exciting and sustainable (environmentally, socially and economically) dive experience catering for divers with varying interests and levels of experience.
To provide a safe environment for various compatible recreational uses and a safe dive site.
To provide access (for divers and non-divers) to the Ex-HMAS ADELAIDE dive site for commercial operators, non-commercial interests, education establishments, researchers and the general public.
To create an artificial reef that provides habitat and protection for a range of species naturally occurring within the area.
To respect the history and heritage of the HMAS Adelaide and all who sailed on the vessel.
To enhance commercial opportunities including tourism and hence increase income and employment opportunities (direct and indirect) primarily to benefit the Central Coast economy.
To be internationally recognised as a demonstration and education site for the productive and sustainable use of a ship as a dive site and artificial reef contributing to marine environmental awareness.

You can view the Plan of Management below:

HMAS Adelaide Reserve Plan of Management (PDF 2.32 mb)