WA: Port takes on fed govt on bomb clean up

AAP General News (Australia)
08-17-2006
WA: Port takes on fed govt on bomb clean up

A small port in Western Australia's south-west is pitted in a David and Goliath-type
legal battle with the federal government .. on just who should clean up World War II bombs
in its harbour.

The Albany Port Authority has wracked up legal bills of 750 thousand dollars .. in
its fight to get the Defence Department to clean up bombs dumped in the harbour in 1947.

The haul include a 250 pound bomb .. four 18 pound artillery shells .. 4.5 inch navy
shells .. and a variety of large and small calibre shells.

Authority chief executive BRAD WILLIAMSON says the bombs were only discovered in 2000
.. when the harbour was dredged.

The port wants Canberra to pay the estimated three million dollars it would cost to
clean the bombs up .. and the two-point-six million dollars it cost to dredge the harbour.

But he says the federal government is refusing to negotiate.

AAP RTV den/wz/wf

KEYWORD: BOMBS (PERTH)

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