Taskforce continues gaining ground in war on wrecks

The War on Wrecks Taskforce has been undertaking state-wide public consultation to help identify unseaworthy vessels that can be removed from our waterways and to understand and remedy the factors causing this growing problem. Public consultation sessions were held at Port Douglas, Yeppoon, Southport and Redlands.

By early January 2019, using the $20 million War on Wrecks fighting fund, 96 wrecks had been removed from Queensland waters, with action plans developed or contracts awarded to remove 225 more.

A database of an additional 252 confirmed wrecks has also been compiled.

The taskforce is consolidating themes gained from research and public consultation to present in its report to government. This short summary of discussions at the Southport public consultation meeting on 30 November 2018 provides an indication of suggestions being considered by the taskforce (PDF, 35 KB). 

But the taskforce still needs and values your help to identify derelict vessels and your ideas for reducing the number of vessels that become unseaworthy in the future.

How you can help

The taskforce has now concluded the public consultation phase of its deliberations and is currently preparing its report to the Minister for Transport and Main Roads, so there is no further opportunity for the public to have input to the report.

However, if you:

• know of the location of an unseaworthy vessel that is a danger to navigation or a threat to the marine environment or public safety
• own such a vessel and would like to discuss ways of removing it
• know the identity and contact details of the owners of such vessels
• think you can help with suggestions to prevent vessels becoming derelict and abandoned in future.

You are still welcome to contact us by emailing WarOnWrecks@msq.qld.gov.au.

While you are here, you might like to watch the short video on this page demonstrating one of the ways in which we have removed derelict vessels.