OPINION

By Max Bryant – President
Western Port Oberon Association

FIRSTLY I must apologise to all Victorians, the residents of the Mornington Peninsula and in particular the people of the Hastings and Crib Point.

I apologise for the loss of the submarine, the former HMAS Otama, which was to be the centre piece of a project to create a world class tourism destination at Crib Point.

Western Port Oberon Association (WPOA) had purchased Otama for $55,000 with a receipt and clear bill of sale from Defence Disposals (DD).

Many would say “well the submarine has sat there for over 20 years and nothing has happened.”

I could not count the letters sent seeking support for the project.

Far too numerous to list here, are all the meetings with politicians seeking their support.

Then there is our council. Apart from some early support nothing of any real consequence.

One politician handing out millions in grants to other similar projects not even in his electorate.

The same pollie has never come forward with any funds to deliver this community project.

Sadly, our politicians could have at any time righted this wrong but they chose to sit back and do nothing.

They are allowing this project to die, and none of them are accountable.

Alot of waffle but there was not any support forthcoming from either federal, state or local levels of government.

It was easy to conclude tourism on Western Port was not to be encouraged.

Our submarine was taken from us by Parks Victoria in collusion with Defence Disposals the very group we purchased the submarine from.

In 2020 a representative of Defence Disposals arrived on the doorstep of the Victorian Maritime Museum saying he wanted to discuss Otama.

The very first words out of his mouth were, “as far as I am concerned your project is over and you have two options.”

First option, “you sell the submarine back to us for a dollar and we will dispose of it.”

Then the second option, “we will take steps to take the submarine from you.”

 Little did we realise at that time how true the “take steps to take the submarine from you” was to become.

Later after two meetings DD offered to cut Otama in to 12 pieces and return them back to us. Then it became 33 pieces; the world’s largest Jigsaw puzzle!

Then it became, they would return whatever was practical thus making it highly unlikely we would get anything.

During this time DD began putting together their plan to get their hands on Otama.

The severe storms in July 2021 played directly into their hands.

The opportunity had arrived to join forces with Parks to get the Otama.

There is no doubt that the high wind loading on the submarines fin caused the boat to list. The list became such it allowed sea water to enter the ballast tank through a couple of openings at the top of the tank. We quickly established the fact that the pressure hull had remained watertight and the submarine was in no danger of sinking.

 On the 19 August 2021 Parks Victoria, who has control over the area where Otama was moored, issued a notice to WPOA to remove Otama from Western Port Bay by 2 October 2021.

Parks Victoria were in no doubt well aware that WPOA did not have the funds or a suitable location to relocate the submarine to.

Parks Victoria has issued notice to seize your submarine without any transparency whatsoever.

Several meeting with Parks occurred where we believe bullying and intimidation took place to try and force WPOA to sign a Deed of Assignment, effectively selling Otama to Parks for one dollar.

At a WPOA members meeting, the members voted unanimously not to sign the document.

Parks declared Otama a environmental hazard even though we had previously been given EPA clearance which was required before Otama could enter Western Port.

If Otama was an environmental hazard then how come the water from the ballast tank was pumped directly in to the bay?

The loss of Otama shatters the hearts and dreams of the volunteers that have worked so hard for the community which it represents.

The loss of a means to generate seed funding for local projects to assist our young people.

The loss of two hundred local jobs for our young people.

The loss of a platform to assist in the wellbeing of our veterans.

The loss of a lifeline to the local depressed business community.

The loss of a project for our senior citizens to become active volunteers.

Parks and their partner are prepared to spend five million of hard earned taxpayers dollars removing and disposing of Otama when we believe the boat could have been brought ashore in Crib Point with the required infrastructure for ten percent of that cost!

Not only less money but Otama would go on serving the community by generating surplus funds to go back into the community.

Then why has the project not gone forward?

I wish we could answer that.

It beggars belief that the funds have not been forthcoming and the vast majority of the community think so as well.

At the time of writing this letter WPOA members were not even given the opportunity to remove their personal effects from the submarine.

So many members of the community signed the petition lodged with the state government. A great many individuals, tourism facilities, businesses and groups wrote letters of support to the Minister for Tourism and the Minister for Ports all to no avail.

It is never over until Otama is destroyed, so let’s not stop fighting for our community.

Remember we are all volunteers. No one involved receives any remuneration whatsoever.

In fact some have put in a considerable amount of their own funds to keep the project going without any prospect of reimbursement.

Now that is dedication to your community!

Make no mistake your submarine has been stolen.

The people of Western Port and the entire Mornington Peninsula are entitled to be angry.

We have had it all. Threats, bullying and discrimination. The powers to be are determined to ensure that tourism does not develop in the Western Port region.

It is a time for stronger action with a stronger voice.

We need people to champion the cause to save Otama or at least some of the main pieces for future generations to enjoy.

We have petitioned Parks and the Minister for Defence that if Otama is cut up then we would like the complete casing including the fin of the submarine, the complete control room with all its fittings including periscopes from the main deck upwards, the forward torpedo room from two metres aft of the torpedo tube doors and including the bow, and the two propellers.

After what we have been through and the expenditure out of our own pockets, one would think that at the very least we are entitled to these sections.

We would like a formal agreement in writing from Defence that these sections are to be delivered back to us. This will enable our project, and our dream, to continue.

Is it possible that our council will finally get involved and help secure the return of the pieces of Otama back to the rightful owners? A meeting with the Minister for Defence and demand the sections of the submarine back?

Those associated with the project, particularly our veterans, are truly devastated by this turn of events.

First published in the Western Port News – 28 September 2022