06/04/2005 - The dramatic
stories of shipwrecks lying off the coast
of New South Wales will become more accessible
to land-based visitors thanks to funding announced
today by the Minister for the Environment
and Heritage, Senator Ian Campbell.
Senator Campbell said the Australian Government
would contribute $64,000 through its Historic
Shipwrecks Programme to four shipwreck projects
run by the New South Wales Heritage Office.
"This funding will help the New South
Wales Heritage Office survey, identify and
manage historic shipwrecks and provide interpretive
material at the sites of some of the state's
shipwrecks," Senator Campbell said.
"Funding will also help run maritime
archaeology training programs and further
public understanding of the importance of
conserving this important part of our maritime
heritage.
"The sea is history's great highway
and the wrecks that lie off our island continent
can reveal much about our past in areas such
as trade, defence and migration.
"This funding will not only help us
to protect these wrecks but will enable us
to better understand the wealth of information
they contain," Senator Campbell said.
A total of $391,000 will support 40 shipwreck
related projects around Australia through
Australia's Historic Shipwrecks Programme.
Under this programme, the Australian Government
funds its state and territory partners to
help protect, preserve, research and provide
information on some of the nation's 6500 shipwrecks
and related materials.
