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Findings and recommendations
Findings
Chapter 1 - The
significance of the Gallipoli Peninsula
-
The significance
of the 1915 Allied campaign at Gallipoli in the history of the Australian
nation has experienced a resurgence of interest in recent years as a symbol of
independence, nationhood, national ethos and identity.
- The significance
of Gallipoli is reflected by strongly growing attendances at ANZAC Day
ceremonies at ANZAC Cove over the last decade, and by a resurgence of interest
and support for commemorative activities.
- In the lead-up to
the centenary of the 1915 landing, public interest in Gallipoli is likely to grow.
- The symbolism and
importance of Gallipoli has been reflected in extremely strong public reaction
to events at Gallipoli early in 2005 both with respect to damaging roadworks,
but also the events associated with the ANZAC Day ceremony on 25 April 2005.
Chapter 2 - The need for roadworks on the peninsula
-
The entire
Gallipoli Peninsula, which was the field of battle from 25 April to December
1915, is experiencing significantly increased levels of tourism from both
Turkish and Australian and New Zealand citizens.
- The ANZAC Cove
sector of Gallipoli, as defined in the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne, is experiencing
a similar level of pressure. The site is remote and environmentally sensitive
to urban settlement and agriculture, as well as tourism, and access by tourists
is relatively uncontrolled.
- The facilities
for those attending commemorative activities at the Australian commemorative
site adjacent to ANZAC Cove are inadequate. There is insufficient space for
attendees on ANZAC Day, poor water supply, and inadequate toilet facilities.
- Foremost among
the shortcomings of the Australian site over the last five years has been
difficult access by road, insufficient parking space for buses, and traffic
management arrangements on key ceremonial occasions, including ANZAC Day.
- Roads to the ANZAC
site, until recently, have been allowed to fall into serious disrepair, posing
risks of public safety and restricted access at times of high demand.
- The Turkish
Government, in recognition of its responsibilities and the need to provide
better access on the peninsula for visitors of all nationalities, has embarked
on a major program of investment in road upgrades.
- The Australian
Government, through the agency of the Minister for Veterans' Affairs and the
Office of Australian War Graves, and the Department of Foreign Affairs and
Trade, has been active in seeking improvements to all facilities at the
Australian commemorative site, including improved road access and parking.
- A key request was
made in a letter from the then Australian Minister for Veterans' Affairs, the
Hon. Danna Vale, to the Turkish Minister for Environment and Forests, His
Excellency Mr Osman Pepe. The letter suggested improved turnaround facilities
for coaches at two northern locations on the coastal road. It also recommended
an upgrade of the inland road from Lone Pine up to Chunuk Bair, and down along
the third ridge to the Kemalyeri Memorial.
Chapter 3 - The culpability of the Australian Government in damage
caused by the roadworks
-
The Committee
finds that bone fragments were unearthed by the coastal roadworks, and that the
military heritage was damaged permanently—with no convincing evidence to the
contrary. Significant sites of the ANZAC campaign between April and December
1915 have been lost forever.
- The Committee
finds that the Australian Government has wanted to improve the roads around
Gallipoli for a long time. Given this desire, the letter from Minister Vale,
and frequent attendance by Australian officials, the Committee finds that the
Australian Government is culpable through its own inaction for the damage
caused by the recent roadworks.
- The Committee finds that Australian
officials did have first-hand knowledge while construction was ongoing that the
roadworks were causing damage to the landscape. There was no effort made to
investigate allegations that bone fragments had been uncovered, nor to
negotiate with Turkish authorities on the extent of the roadworks.
- Concern expressed
by Australian and Turkish people at the nature of the work and the risk of
archaeological damage, resulted in only a short suspension of work late in February
2005. By then, the damage was done. Work proceeded shortly thereafter.
- The Committee
finds that there was no scope for a process of planning and consultation
between the Turkish and Australian Governments, prior to the construction work
proceeding in late February 2005. There was no systematic oversight of military
heritage issues by Australian authorities. Turkey's National Parks Directorate
had employed three consultants to undertake a survey of the area. It lasted
only 15 minutes and was performed after the excavations.
- The Committee
finds that the process for treating uncovered human remains at Gallipoli is
unclear.
- The Committee
finds that the Australian Government was 'asleep at the wheel' in the months
prior to the roadworks commencing in late February 2005. It placed too much
faith in the assurances of Turkish officials and the Commonwealth War Graves
Commission. It responded almost two months after the damage was done, despite
the knowledge of Australian officials that construction was affecting the site.
- Advice to the Australian
Government on the damage which occurred in late February 2005, was not properly
heeded and prompted no serious intervention until the Prime Minister's visit on
26 April 2005. It was not until then that work was fully suspended by the
Government of Turkey.
- The Government,
by its failure to safeguard the ANZAC Cove site and its Australian military
heritage, defaulted on its responsibility to the Australian people, particularly
the expectations of veterans.
Chapter 4 - The need for research
- Recognising its
accepted status as an international cemetery where over 130,000 people died,
Gallipoli has not been adequately surveyed, researched, or catalogued for its
military heritage value, nor for the sensitivity of its natural environment, so
as to inform current and future management policy.
- The failure to undertake such
research has resulted in significant public concern in both Turkey and
Australia at the destructive nature of the 2005 roadworks.
-
An archaeological
survey of the roadworks site was conducted after the event by the Commonwealth
War Graves Commission (CWGC), at the request of the Department of Veterans'
Affairs. The survey was cursory and inadequate, and the advice provided has
been directly contradicted by local people.
- Sole reliance on
CWGC advice, rather than direct Australian initiation of an archaeological
survey by Australian experts, was a serious error of judgement. The Australian
Government must be held accountable for this oversight.
- The significant
degradation of the beach and coastal waters at ANZAC Cove could have been
avoided had the area been properly researched.
- On 26 April 2005,
the Prime Minister of Turkey initiated an assessment of the damage to military
and cultural heritage at ANZAC Cove, and to rectify this damage. These research
projects should have preceded the roadworks, not followed it.
Heritage
issues
-
The Government of
Turkey should be credited with the declaration of the Gallipoli peninsula as an
international peace park, in recognition of its significance as an original WWI
battlefield of immense importance to the nations who fought there.
- The Committee
find that progress on the Heritage listing of the site on the Australian
Register of the National Estate is at a sensitive stage. Since discussions on
this issue commenced, there has been a shift from heritage listing under
Australian legislation to more symbolic means of recognition.
- Notwithstanding
the current assessments being undertaken, much more research needs to be
undertaken not just of the immediate ANZAC area, but the entire peninsula. This
must be the priority of the Australian Government.
- Future roadworks must be subject to
detailed scrutiny to ensure that no damage is done to any military heritage.
Recommendations
Recommendation 1
The Committee
strongly recommends remedial action before the onset of winter to stabilise and
restore the vegetation at ANZAC Cove. This will ameliorate the scarring caused
by the earth works and minimise future erosion.
Recommendation
2
The Committee
recommends clearer guidelines for the future management, recovery, reburial or
storage of human remains at Gallipoli. The current arrangements are clearly not
understood, and their effectiveness is doubtful.
Recommendation 3
The Committee recommends a full military-historical audit of the entire
battlefield area at Gallipoli, with Australian priority for the ANZAC area.
This survey must be public information and must be continually updated.
Recommendation 4
The Committee recommends that a working group be established by the
government to advise it on the coordination of the conservation management
planning of the Gallipoli site. This group should include key government
departments (including DVA, DEH and OAWG), the Returned Services League, the
Australian War Memorial, and historians and archaeologists with specialist
knowledge of Gallipoli.
Recommendation 5
The Committee
recommends that the activities of this working group are documented in annual
reports. These reports should be sent to the proposed parliamentary committee
(see recommendation 6).
Recommendation
6
The Committee recommends to the parliament that it establish a joint
standing military commemorations committee. This Commemorations Committee will
exercise bi-partisan oversight over all commemorative programs, including the
management of all sites of Australian military heritage. It is hoped that the
establishment of the Committee will remove the risk of political exploitation
of commemorative events by the government of the day. Recommendation
7
The Commemorations
Committee should receive quarterly reports from the relevant government
agencies on all commemorative activity and planning, including all memorial
construction, event preparation, meetings, agendas, outcomes, public education
and budgets.
The
Commemorations Committee should also receive advice from the working group on all military heritage conservation issues, and develop a rapport
with comparable groups in Turkey and New Zealand.
Recommendation
8
The Committee recommends
that the Australian Government should maintain a dialogue with the Turkish
Government on the symbolic recognition of Gallipoli, with the express objective
of a management plan for the protection of Australian military heritage at
Gallipoli.
Recommendation
9
The Committee recommends that special arrangements be
established whereby discussions and negotiations with the Government of Turkey with respect
to the international recognition of Gallipoli should be reported to the new
parliamentary standing committee on a quarterly basis.
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