06/04/2005 - Ongoing efforts
to help identify, understand and preserve
Tasmania's rich shipwreck heritage have been
boosted with the announcement today of $48,000
funding from the Australian Government.
In making the announcement, Minister for the
Environment and Heritage, Senator Ian Campbell
said the funding would assist the public's
understanding, appreciation and enjoyment
of Tasmania's 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," Senator
Campbell said.
"Although in some cases only metres
of water separate us from hundreds of years
of history, many of us will never get a chance
to see even one of those wrecks.
"Part of this funding will help the
Tasmanian Department of Tourism, Parks, Heritage
and the Arts develop a publication titled
Underwater Cultural Heritage - Australian
Approaches that will highlight Australia's
efforts to bring our submerged history to
life.
"Funding will also be used to conduct
regular examinations, surveys and condition
monitoring historic maritime sites in Tasmania,
helping to conserve this important part of
our heritage for the future," 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.
