Lighthouse Vandalism: Ongoing Problem In NSW Australia
By Sue Clark on Jan 28, 2008 in Featured, News 
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NSW Maritime Issues Alerts
One of the news items that crossed my desk today was the information from BYMnews that the NSW Maritime has issued an alert asking boaters to help in reporting vandalism. Not vandalism to boats, but to historic lighthouses no less, along with other navigational aids (buoys and lighted navigational markers). The article reported that the NSW Maritime has spent nearly $190,000 AUD in the past three years on 153 incidents of vandalism. One of the worst incidents took place at Tacking Point Lighthouse, near Port Macquarie, pictured on the left.
Windows Shot Out
In one of the most shocking incidents, vandals shot a bullet through the glass in the lantern room at Tacking Point Light. This narrowly missed the light, but has caused rain to enter the tower, causing even more damage. Besides the senseless damage to this light, solar panels have been stolen or smashed, light lenses have been spray-painted, and buoys and other marine structures have been damaged, leaving electrical wiring exposed.
Ongoing Destruction At Crookhaven Heads
This remote lightstation, Crookshaven Heads, near Nowra, is one of the most endangered lights in the state. And partly because of its remote location, it has been the target of vandals for years. Doors have been broken and removed, the windows and lantern room glass have been smashed and trash has been dumped inside. The NSW Maritime Authority placed wire mesh around the lantern room in an effort to stop the vandals, but even that was destroyed. See the photos by Ian Clifford. A separate light was placed high atop the tower to protect it from these thugs who want to destroy historical and navigational property, at a cost of $25,600 AUD.
The High Cost of Repair
Besides the incidents above, the report stated that the North Coast waterways had the most incidents of destruction, 61 in total, with a repair cost of $84,095 AUD. And also the following reports:
- Hunter Inland: 18 incidents, costing $18,447 AUD
- Hawkesbury/Broken Bay: 26 incidents costing $32,686 AUD
- Sydney (including Port Hacking): 14 incidents costing $13,623 AUD
- South Coast: 34 incidents costing $40,082 AUD
The report ended with a reminder that wilful and malicious damage to navigation markers is a criminal offense and heavy penalties apply.
What Is Wrong With Society?
To what purpose are these being destroyed? It was shocking when the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse here in Maine was hit with grafitti damage, but this goes beyond words. I certainly hope boaters are on the lookout for anyone acting suspiciously and report them ASAP to the authorities. Lighthouse enthusiast or not, the safety of mariners could be at stake and they should be prosecuted to the full extent of Australian law.
Photo Credits:
- Tacking Point Lighthouse by Autumn Leaf on Flickr. Some rights reserved.
- Crookhaven Heads Lighthouse © brettm8 on Flickr. All rights reserved.
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More About Vandalism
- Lighthouse Vandalism: Ongoing Problem In NSW Australia
- More Vandalism At Tacking Point
- Police Arrest Lighthouse Vandals
- Port Elizabeth Lighthouse Broken Into
- Lighthouse Keeper’s Home On The Market
- Hope For Vandalized Crookhaven Lighthouse
- Mexican Lighthouse Vandalism Thwarted
- Theft at Toledo Harbor Lighthouse
- Holland Harbor Lighthouse Vandalized
- More On Lighthouse Vandalism
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