URGENT UPDATE: Controversy erupts over new regulations affecting fishing and boating around Garden Island, with protestors planning a major community flotilla next weekend. This follows revelations from The West Australian that the Albanese Government has introduced restrictions impacting access to waters near the HMAS Stirling naval base, set to receive US and British submarines by 2027.
The new regulations, signed by Defence Minister Richard Marles, designate areas around Garden Island as part of the “Stirling designated zone.” Public access is currently limited to only two sections of land, raising alarm among local fishing and boating communities. Organizers of the Stop AUKUS WA Reclaim the Sound rally, including Leonie Lundy, state their protest is in solidarity with recreational fishers and the broader community affected by these changes.
“We’ve known for some time that the whole of Garden Island could be impacted,” Lundy stated. “What’s been an insult to the public has been defence’s lack of transparency.” She emphasized that questions directed to officials about the regulations remain unanswered two months later.
Critics, including Greens Senator David Shoebridge, are labeling this development as the creation of Australia’s first nuclear waste dump at a popular fishing spot. “If Labor does not intend to use this land for nuclear material, then why have they so clearly included these public access sites into the map like this?” he questioned, highlighting concerns over the potential impacts of AUKUS on public land.
In response, local MP Madeleine King took to social media, dismissing the Greens’ claims as a “stupid scare campaign.” She assured the public that Garden Island remains open for recreational activities, including swimming and fishing. “Everyone can continue to go for a swim, get out the flippers & mask and for a skindive, have a BBQ, play cricket on the beach, and do some fishing,” King asserted.
Officials from the Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Regulator clarified that the designated zones are regulatory boundaries, asserting that current activities like fishing and boating can continue. They stated, “The movement, management and storage of this low-level radioactive waste is a regulated activity licensed by ANNPSR.”
However, Lundy warns that the broader implications of increased naval activity in Cockburn Sound pose environmental risks. “The recreational fishing community should be concerned about the direct environmental impact nuclear waste could have on the environment,” she cautioned.
As tensions rise and community protests loom, stakeholders are advised to stay informed about developments surrounding AUKUS and its impact on local resources. The upcoming flotilla will be a crucial moment for those advocating for transparency and environmental protection.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops.
