While the government has been quick to downplay concerns that the ex-navy ship landed on her side, all I’m asking for is transparency.
I’m not interested in dishing out blame, I just want to see a good outcome for our community.
The contract between the government and the contractor entrusted with the job of scuttling Tobruk clearly states that the “ship is to be in an upright position, in the correct location, depth and orientation”.
Given that the contract clearly states that the ship rest in an upright position, surely there’s insurance to fall back on to rectify the bungle.
My motivation here has only ever been to ensure our community gets what was expected. The government promised a world-class dive site that could be accessed by novice, intermediate and advanced divers, and at the end of the day that’s what I want to be assured, for the sake of our community.
We don’t have to look far for evidence that the ship can in fact be salvaged. Take for example the wreck of giant cruise liner Costa Concordia, which was recorded as one of the biggest maritime salvage operations some five years ago.
There are a number of other navy ships which have all been successfully scuttled off our Australian coastlines.
Ends.
Wednesday, 11 July 2018