By GARY FRY
THE build-up of bushfire fuel at the site of one of the Armidale region’s most historically significant World War II defence installations is causing renewed concern.
Advocates believe the NSW Heritage List has not provided adequate protection for the Yooroonah Tank Barrier, 12km west of Ebor.
They are now appealing for it to be considered a nationally significant military heritage site. Beyond preservation, they would like to see school groups eventually visit the site.
The site includes a tunnel under the old Grafton Road. This was to be filled with explosives as the first line of defence against the feared incursion of Japanese tanks from Coffs Harbour into the New England region.
Immediately down the slope from the dirt road are wooden posts or bollards to further impede the predicted tanks; and then there are the “tetrahedra” or concrete pyramids and a swamp at the base of a steep ridge.
Harold Heffernan is the President of both the Ebor and District Lions Club and the Armidale and District Sub-Branch of the National Servicemen’s Association.
Now aged 80, he says he has been fighting bureaucratic inaction for almost 15 years. Mr Heffernan is calling on the new member for Northern Tablelands, Adam Marshall and his Federal Government colleagues to recognise the importance of the Ebor Tank Barrier site.
“I’ll be doing everything I can at a State level to raise this issue on the priority list, so that we do get it declared a military heritage site,” Mr Marshall said.
“That obviously involves a decision at a Federal level. I’ll make sure that all the stakeholders, Harold Heffernan, in particular, are engaged in the process.
“This is the only site of its kind in Eastern Australia (being so intact and inland). If we continue to allow this site to degrade, we will deprive future generations of this unique part of Australia’s military history and that would be a great shame.”
Red tape has been compounded by the fact that the site crosses several jurisdictional boundaries, sitting on land governed by three bureaucracies.
Late in 2009, the NSW Planning Minister placed the Yooroonah Tank Barrier on the State Heritage Register. Bulky management plans have been drawn up, yet Ebor locals have seen little more than a ’lock it up, leave it alone and it is preserved’ approach.
It was hoped that the Heritage Register Listing would end the jurisdictional authority issues and bureaucratic red-tape, which have previously snagged well-intentioned efforts to protect, preserve and promote this site.
According to Mr Heffernan, who is also a former captain of the Point Lookout Rural Fire Service Brigade, nothing has changed. He said that vegetation was dense around the tank barrier site, with little or no adequate fire break in place.
“I’ve just inspected the site and the scrub is high and thickly through the site. Fire breaks are common sense damage prevention measures,” Mr Heffernan said.
The site suffered serious bushfire damage in 2004, with 18 wooden posts burnt or completely destroyed. Yet, the lesson was not heeded by NSW agencies, which have prevented local volunteers from carrying out independent management of the site. “Several years ago, there were threats of legal action from a government department in response to our fire break efforts,” Mr Heffernan said.
“Another fire could destroy what’s left of the wooden posts. It’s a matter of when, not if another fire will hit.”
“The Nasho’s and the Ebor and District Lions Club will work (voluntarily) to maintain and preserve the Yooroonah Tank Barrier site near Ebor. We just need permission.”
The Ebor Tank Trap site has been recognised for its national importance by NSW RSL President, Don Rowe and Armidale Sub-Branch President, Bob Holloway OAM.
Mr Holloway said that it would be fantastic if young people could learn of the region’s military heritage by seeing it for themselves.
