Discarded items including an old yacht left in the bush around Eden after the 1959 Sydney to Hobart race need to be cleared away so work on the Bundian Way can progress.
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The Bega Valley Shire Council (BVSC) and the Eden Aboriginal Land Council (EALC) are hoping the assortment of old items in bushland at Quarantine Bay can be removed so that the area can reach its full potential.
Both organisations have been working to clear the site of old trailers and random equipment that appear to have been stored or abandoned for some years.
One of the items is a red racing yacht known as the Jindivik, which competed in the 1959 Sydney to Hobart Race.
Its mast broke during the race and not a lot is known about its movements after that, until it was moored in Quarantine Bay some years ago by its new owner from Mallacoota.
However, it’s believed the yacht was blown off its mooring during a storm several years ago and was dragged ashore where she has sat ever since.
John Grady, BVSC manager of leisure and recreation, said the council is looking to the owners of these various items to step in and clear their gear from this public land.
“Council staff have been working with anyone we can find who is connected to this material and some positive steps have been taken and some of the old trailers have been removed,” Mr Grady said.
“However with the Bundian Way project advancing we need to inject some momentum into the clean-up that is still left to be done.”
Quarantine Bay will act as one of the pick-up areas for planned tours of the ancient trail and the old stored items really detract from the quality of the project.
“It’s a really scrappy look and I don’t think it’s how the community would like the area to be presented to the many visitors we are expecting on the walk and tours,” said Noel Whittem, Bundian Way Project Manager.
“The ELAC has done a lot of work on the section of the Bundian Way from Cocoa Beach to Quarantine Bay and locals and visitors that have walked the trail so far have been very impressed.”
The aim is to have the site clear by the first week in November. If need be Council rangers will consider placing formal clean up notices on the items; but BVSC and ELAC hope it doesn’t come to that.
“The Bundian Way is an exciting project for Eden and the Shire. With such good work done on the trail by the EALC we hope the area can be cleaned up before they run their first tours in November.” Mr Grady said.
