War on wrecks images and video

Video transcript

The video shows ex-commercial vessel, the Warunda, being removed from the seabed of Trinity Inlet in Cairns in 2020. The removal required heavy equipment to raise the hull sections to the surface and cut the huge vessel into pieces. These were placed on a barge and taken ashore for disposal. The process took several weeks.

Video transcript

The video shows the removal of a yacht called Sweet Kate from a seawall at Tallebudgera Creek by a helicopter contracted by Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ). The yacht had washed up there late 2018 and MSQ’s attempts to persuade the owner to remove it were not successful. MSQ removed the yacht using the government’s War on Wrecks fund to do so, and a helicopter airlift was the most practical way of removing.

Video transcript

Queensland is world-renowned for its beautiful waterways.

From the tip of Cape York to the Gold Coast, from the Great Barrier Reef through to our rivers and creeks, there's nowhere better to dive, fish or simply cruise. And shipping is vital to our state's economy.

That's why we've committed $20 million to the War on Wrecks program to remove derelict vessels and other hazards to help make these waterways pristine and safe.

Maritime Safety Queensland, along with their partner agencies, are cleaning up Queensland.

And we need your help to finish the job by identifying existing vessels that have become waterway hazards as well as preventing the further abandonment of boats.

Since the program launched 2 years ago, the War on Wrecks Taskforce has removed 609 derelict vessels.

Ranging from sunken tinnies to barges—some barely recognisable—we've been making your waterways safer and cleaner.

This financial year alone, we've been removing an average of 3 wrecks a week from our bays, creeks and islands.

And it's not just boats. In isolated incidents there've been spa baths, abandoned cars, jetties and even tin sheds, but we're not stopping there. Another 100 vessels are on our to do list.

Every part of Queensland has benefitted from the program.

[Cairns] In Cairns, whether you enjoy snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef or boating in tropical waters, we've removed 86 wrecks to improve the experience, and we're monitoring another 25.

[Townsville] If you're cruising around Magnetic Island or venturing out to the Hinchinbrook Channel, we've taken out 64 wrecks from the beaches and coastal areas around Townsville to make it safer.

[Mackay/Whitsunday] Known for its freshwater dams and hidden fishing spots, we've removed 53 to protect the environment and are looking into more wrecks to ensure you stay hooked on Mackay and the Whitsundays area.

[Gladstone] Think coral cays, rivers and tropical islands. Unfortunately abandoned vessels have caused issues for the beaches and ports in the Gladstone region. Since July 2018, we've removed 76 vessels to clean-up the region, and we have another 7 on our radar.

[Brisbane] Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Gold Coast; we want these areas to be known as home to a treasure trove of sandy stretches, not navigation and pollution hazards. To date, we've removed 330 vessels to improve the environment, and another 80 are being monitored by the team.

Now, we want you on board to help develop a whole-of-life approach towards responsible boat ownership, all the way through from manufacture to responsible disposal.

Let's work together so we can all continue to enjoy safer, cleaner seas.

Join the conversation and register for a regional forum. Search War on Wrecks.