http://au.news.yahoo.com//070310/2/12p2g.html

Saturday March 10, 04:54 PM

Anzac Cove road in Turkey under repairs

Turkish authorities are planning to expand controversial roadworks on the Gallipoli peninsula site, the federal government says.

Veterans Affairs Minister Bruce Billson said work had began to repair weather damage to the Anzac Cove road ahead of this year's commemoration service on April 25.

But more significant roadworks would take place later, he said.

"Following Anzac Day, it is anticipated that Turkish authorities will undertake further roadwork," Mr Bilson said in a statement.

The government faced criticism over roadworks at the site ahead of the 90th anniversary commemoration of the Gallipoli landing in 2005.

It emerged the area had been substantially altered by roadworks that were undertaken by Turkish authorities at the Australian government's request.

The roadworks were said to have uncovered bone fragments and damaged war relics.

Temporary roadworks were needed last year to repair weather damage, prompting Labor to call for a permanent solution that protected the historic and archaeological integrity of Anzac Cove.

Mr Bilson moved Saturday to assure Australians the additional roadworks would not disturb the sacred site.

"This work will be within current road profiles, with minimal impact to the Anzac Cove environs," he said.

Mr Bilson said the Australian and Turkish governments shared a commitment to the continued protection of the Gallipoli Peace Park including the Anzac Battlefield area.

Each year, thousands of Australians make the pilgrimage to the World War I battleground, where about 130,000 combatants died.

According to the Australian War Memorial, there were 26,111 Australian casualties from the Gallipoli operation, including 8,141 deaths, with 2,700 New Zealanders killed.

"While Gallipoli is of special significance to Australians, it is also of great importance to the Turkish people, who defended their sovereignty with the loss of some 87,000 lives," Mr Bilson said.

"We will continue to work cooperatively to provide appropriate and dignified commemorations on Anzac Day."

The whole episode of the roadworks was an absolute farce from the beginning and I'd be very sceptical about any future roadworks having 'minimal impact'.

That's what they said last time when myself and lots of others told them of the real effects. Did they take any notice - no!

Probably this time they're thinking of 'repairing' the track over the ridge and making it into a three lane highway for VIP's on Anzac Day.

Tim L.

Ditto, Tim.
You just can't trust a pollie.

Kim

Tim

You beat me to it as there is the following brief article in today’s Sunday Times in New Zealand (Sunday 11 March 2007):

"ANZAC ROADWORK

TURKISK AUTHORITIES are planning to expand controversial roadworks on the Gallipoli peninsula site, the federal government says. Veterans Affairs Minister Bruce Billson yesterday said work had began to repair weather damage to the Anzac Cove road ahead of this year's commemoration service on April 25."

Any pals on the ground there than can comment further on what’s happening?

It's a worry given what’s been lost already!!!

Zack

Pollies like their creature comforts ... they and local govt authorities don't care at all for what we have to say ... even though we pay their wages.

Bright Blessings
Sandra

I thought I had heard the last of this sorry saga!!!.

What interests me is that the CWGC look after the cemetries, does this not include the roads also. Surely they should have some say in all this.

It's probably the Turkish equivalent of OSH making sure that no drunken sod twists his ankle and sues them.

I suspect that the New Zealand & Australian governments will soon get involved.

Don't bet on that if last time is anything to go by!

The only input they had then was to make the whole situation worse.

Tim L.

Hi Pals,

Sorry for the long absence from the site, work continues to get in the way of the important things in life.

As to the road, I have been told by locals that initial work has started. My wife and I went out to the Cove on Sunday to check on developments but went via the back road through the villages as we no longer risk our car on the coastal road (yes, it is that bad). We didn’t see any work between the ANZAC Dawn Service site and the entrance to Shrapnel Gully, though there may be activity further down. We will be going out on Wednesday we hope to see what has developed.

Most of the Turkish authorities’ activities at the moment are concentrated in the south of the peninsula, with roads being re-asphalted and memorial spruced up ahead of the visit of the Turkish Prime Minister to attend ceremonies to mark the 92nd anniversary of the 18 March naval assault. Some 30,000 people are expected to attend the various ceremonies but there are no activities planned for the ANZAC sector, all ceremonies and other events being either in the town of Canakkale or around the Helles and Kilitbahir regions.

I know that Australian authorities have held talks with their Turkish counterparts regarding the road, but apart from Billson’s statement little has been forthcoming. However, it should be noted that the official Australian-Turkish-NZ archaeological, historical and geological study that was supposed to be carried out by a joint team of experts before any further work was done in the ANZAC sector is still a non-starter, two years after the Australian and Turkish PMs agreed to it.

I’ll try and update soon.

Cheers
Bill

Bill

How bad is it re the 'we won't risk our car on the coastal road?'

Zack

Hi Zack,

Put it this way, we only have a small family sedan, a Renault, and it doesn’t take kindly being dropped into potholes up to 30 cm or more deep or, worse still, having its undersides hit ridges in the road of up to the same height. There are a couple of places where the roadbed has been under cut by erosion, with the asphalt actually hanging over gaps beneath it.

There was a case last year when a car travelling at some speed hit a 30 cm dip running across the whole road where a drainage culvert has subsided. Such was the impact that the vehicle’s engine shot out through the bonnet and proceeded another 40 metres down the road.

Anyway, as we have just found out, our car insurance, taken out with one of Turkey’s leading firms, no longer covers driving on certain parts of the Peninsula, including the supposedly well built ANZAC Cove road.

Get the picture?

Cheers
Bill

er......um............thanks Bill .....got the picture

Zack

Pals,

Here is the promised update on work on the road along the coastal strip in the ANZAC sector.

The current state of play is that no work is being carried out at ANZAC Cove itself. Sections of a retaining wall below the coastal road are being built in an area known in 1915 as Brighton Beach, some 800 metres to the south of ANZAC Cove. There were sections of a retaining wall in place prior to this and the work is currently joining up all the sections to make a continuous wall above the beach.

Sections of the road above the beach have been dug up, and new asphalt will be laid. My wife and I spoke to one of the foremen on the site, who was happy to talk. He said he had not been told officially that a retaining wall would be built above the beach at ANZAC Cove but probably such a wall would be built (Not so good).

He also said that the road would be fully useable for 25 April, weather permitting work to go ahead.

Following this, the plan is for a further two layers of asphalt to be paid, completing the road as was intended.

The foreman also said that he believed that some retaining wall work would be done on the slopes above the road, where the original road work excavations had cut so deeply into the hills, to stop erosion. This would further cut the link between the coast and the hills and, in my opinion, be a bad thing. The original plan, not yet implemented, was to replant the slopes with the same native vegetation as had been cut down in the first round of road works.

So far the work is not causing further major damage and no new excavations are taking place. However, spoil has been dumped on the beach and the asphalt from the dug up road left at the side of the road bed. However, I was given an assurance that any spoil on Brighton Beach would be removed one work had been completed.

Frankly, the dug up sections of the road are flatter and safer than the road as it was last week.

No shock horror news as yet, but it is still early days.

Cheers
Bill

Thanks for the update & photos Bill

Bill,

Thanks for keeping an eye on the going's on. I still think it would have been far better if the whole place had been left alone in the first instance.

Hope we can catch up in August for a drink.

Tim L.

Tim, Bill has volunteered for the cricket match, no drinking until afterwards.

On second thoughts.......

Cheers
Kim

Tim,

that is a big yes on both counts.

Kim,

every time I see what has been done to the ANZAC coastal sector I feel the urge for a stiff drink.

Over the past couple of days, work has been suspended, I believe as the workers are involved in a crash program of cleaning up and repairs of other roads ahead of the Turkish commemorations services to mark the 18 March naval victory. Some 30,000 are expected to take part in ceremonies in Canakkale and on the Peninsula, the ceremonies becoming a major event over the past few years, putting ANZAC Day into the shade in terms of numbers and scale.

Further assurances have been given that any spoil on the beach will be removed soon after 18 March.

Cheers
Bill

All i can do is shake my head, and wonder????

Kim

Bill,

Do you know of any monitoring of the road works at Anzac by Australian Government officials or CWGC, for this latest round of work?
To your knowledge, have any Australian representatives been out to inspect the work, within the last few weeks, and more particularly, since Minister Billson's press statement of 10th March.
Has there been any explanation as why the official Australian-Turkish-NZ archaeological, historical and geological study has not started, from over there?

I would appreciate your advice and information on these points.

May I join with the others to thank you for keeping us informed of this latest round of road works. This whole series of works seems to have been badly planned and executed from the very outset. It would appear, the more repair work, the more damage.
The whole sorry saga is just appalling.

Jeff

Hi Pals,

There was an article in the Sydney newspaper the Sun Herald, also appearing on the web site of the Sydney Morning Herald, with comments from the RSL and the Vet Affairs Minister Bruce Billson (and all right me as well). I can’t say that I recall saying I was "shocked" by the extent of the present work as I was quoted, that more referred to previous efforts, but the rest is accurate. Billson said that there would be retaining walls both above and below the Cove road, not good news (note understated emphasis here).

Interestingly, my Turkish sources said the walls in the cove area are still under discussion.

Jeff, I can confirm that both CWGC and Australian government officials have visited the site on more than one occasion in the past week. It was an Australian official who confirmed to me that the spoil on Brighton Beach would be removed soon after 18 March, after I informed him of this by me the same day.

After the ruckus of the past two years, I believe the Australian officials are more on the ball and aware of public concerns over developments in the area.

As I said in an earlier posting, the present work is only having a minimal impact on the area to date, with the sections of retaining walls being built linking up with existing walls. When they get to the cove area it could be another matter.

I cannot agree more that the road works and associated developments have been poorly planned and even more poorly executed. The only hope is that, through continued scrutinising of future plans and of ongoing pressure here in Turkey, New Zealand and Australia, no more shockers are perpetuated.

Of particular concern is the road along Second Ridge, running from below Lone Pine up to Chunuk Bair. This road in many places runs along what was the old no mans land and any major construction work there would destroy front line trenches, tunnels and other sites of vital historical importance, not to mention unearthing the remains of many soldiers of both sides who fell in this area.

Currently, Turkish authorities have appeared to have dropped plans for a much wider new road along the lines of that at ANZAC Cove, instead opting to reseal the existing road, which is in need of repair. If they keep to this, it is damn good thing, and a victory for public action in Turkey and abroad. If they don't it is back to chucking rocks at bulldozers.

Cheers
Bill

Thanks Bill,

Encouraging to know that the Australian Government has got people on the ground and watching the situation.
Only hope it isn't a case of just watching and standing aside.

Please keep up the splendid job you are doing of keeping us abreast of the latest news on the road works from over there.

Jeff

If the need arises to chuck rocks again can you ask them to postphone the work until August so I can throw a few as well.

Cheers,
Tim L.

Tim,

Speaking to my doctor today, (he has advised vaccination, ouch), he went to Gallipoli in 1984, after Uni.
He said he had to hire a Taxi to get there, the roads were practically non existant, and there was not a soul to be seen. He had it all to himself, alone with the graves.

Cheers
Kim

Latest message from Minister of Veterans Affairs

Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Mailing List.

VA033 Tuesday 27 March 2007


GALLIPOLI PLANS FOR ANZAC DAY 2007 UNVEILED


Many months of planning and consultation supported by successful international cooperation have gone into preparing the upcoming 2007 Anzac Day commemorations at Gallipoli the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Bruce Billson said today.

Launching Gallipoli 2007, which will mark the 92nd anniversary of the Anzac landings on April 25, Mr Billson was joined by the New Zealand Minister of Veterans’ Affairs, Rick Barker, and the Turkish Ambassador to Australia, Murat Ersavci.

“International cooperation between Australia, New Zealand and Turkey is the key to ensuring appropriate Anzac Day commemorations are conducted at Gallipoli,” Mr Billson said.

“The dignified and insightful commemorations at Gallipoli in 2006 were evidence of the strong relationship we have forged with New Zealand and Turkey. As we build on the success of last year, I am certain that those in attendance at the 2007 commemorations will be deeply moved by an unforgettable experience,” he said.

Mr Billson said careful and detailed preparation was essential to conducting commemorative activities that run seamlessly for visitors.

“Logistically, this is a very large undertaking. Almost overnight we transport in facilities to accommodate 10,000 to 15,000 visitors, with minimal impact to the Anzac Cove environment,” he said.

“The Dawn Service and Australian memorial service at Lone Pine follow traditional orders of service. To enhance the experience of the thousands of people from many nations who gather at the site, an overnight interpretive program; featuring documentaries, live interviews and period music; is organised to contribute to their understanding of the Gallipoli campaign and its legacy to Turkey, Australia and New Zealand.

“In the hour before dawn, as those at the Anzac Commemorative Site wait for the Dawn Service, a feature of the overnight program, Spirit of Place, will seek to create an atmosphere for contemplation and reflection.

“The names and epitaphs of some of those Australian and New Zealand soldiers who lie forever on the Gallipoli Peninsula will symbolise all who died there, while the symphonic piece, Thoughts of Home, composed by Australian Peter Sculthorpe, will evoke the spirit of Gallipoli.”

Mr Billson said the Australian Government was fully committed to honouring and remembering the service and sacrifice of our veterans and had committed some $45.8 million for commemorative activities during 2006-07.

“While there are no longer any survivors of the Gallipoli campaign still with us, we must ensure that their sacrifice and contribution to our nation will never be forgotten.”

Visitors to the commemorations will proceed through security checkpoints where bags will be searched. In the interest of both safety and the dignity of the occasion, large backpacks, camping equipment, alcohol and weapons will be prohibited. A special crowd liaison team will be on hand to assist visitors.

'Crowd liaison team' Hah!

When I was first at Gallipoli in 1995, a 'crowd liaison team' consisting of Turkish soldiers barred the way for a whole bunch of buses going from the dawn service at Ari Burnu (as it was then) up to Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair. This was because the turkish prime minister, or president - I don't remember or care which - was 'in the area'.

We all got off the buses and sat in the road, including an old Turkish Korean War veterean in his uniform. We were threatened with water-cannon, but in the end we were let through - too late for the formal ceremonies, but we staged our own with a didgeridoo instead of a bugle at Lone Pine. The Kiwis did something similar at Chunuk Bair.

What some people do, to avoid the official hassles, is to get out to Anzac the day before and camp in a gully. Naturally I'm not recommending it because it's technically not allowed. But there's no chance of being sprung, you'd be there with the best seats for the dawn service, and you just pile on a bus back to Eceabat or Cannakale after all the ceremonies.

Not for everyone, but some (unnamed) people have been known to do it. Beware though, anyone thinking of doing something like that - the feeling that ghosts walk the valleys may make sleep difficult.

“The Dawn Service and Australian memorial service at Lone Pine follow traditional orders of service. To enhance the experience of the thousands of people from many nations who gather at the site, an overnight interpretive program; featuring documentaries, live interviews and period music; is organised to contribute to their understanding of the Gallipoli campaign and its legacy to Turkey, Australia and New Zealand.

“In the hour before dawn, as those at the Anzac Commemorative Site wait for the Dawn Service, a feature of the overnight program, Spirit of Place, will seek to create an atmosphere for contemplation and reflection.



Looks like they learnt that pop music has no place on Gallipoli.

Kim

I suppose one could be accused of being somewhat cynical to question just what $45.8 million for the commemoarative activities was being spent on, unless in the highly unlikely chance that every Australian who is travelling to Gallipoli for the Anzac Day service is having their airfares and accomodation paid for by our Government. Might even extend to handing out a poppy for the pilgrims to honour our fallen forefathers.
One wonders if this new found generosity could be extended to assist with the protection and preservation of Australia Hall on Malta.
For one who is a descenant of a Gallipoli veteran, the hounour of just being able to travel to Anzac, to give remembrance to their hardships, courage and sacrifice, is a privilage and life long ambition in its self.
I for one do not need any interactive program of documentaries, interviews or period music to remind me of what the day stands for.
There is a traditional Anzac Day service and that alone is what it is all about.
We will remember them.
Lest we forget.

Jeff

Pals,

regarding the road issue on the Peninsula, the newspaper The Age ran an article on March 27. If you indulge me I'll drop in the article and then comment below.


Gallipoli probe finds no evidence of remains

AN INVESTIGATION at Gallipoli has found no evidence that human bones were dug up during road works there in 2005, the Federal Government says.

Unveiling plans for this year's low-key Anzac Day ceremonies, Veterans Affairs Minister Bruce Billson said it was not possible to validate the claim because no human remains were recovered, none were available for analysis and there were no remains identified in the area of the work.

When Turkish ambassador Murat Ersavci was asked if he thought the claims were a deliberate misrepresentation, he responded: "I don't think I should say that. It's not easy to say that but there was certainly a lot of speculation."

Those who said they found bones have insisted that they left them in position, out of respect for the dead.

Veteran Affairs department secretary Mark Sullivan said the department tried to investigate claims that human remains were found but the bones were lost.

"The people who found the bone lost the bone, don't remember where they put it and said it was a human bone," Mr Sullivan said.

"And we said 'show us where it is and we'll have a look at it'.

"But there's no bone, and where did it come from? We don't know."

Security will be tight for the 92nd anniversary of the landings. The bags and equipment of everyone entering the site will be searched and all visitors will have to wear a wristband to show they have been screened.



OK, now for my bit.

The majority report of the Australian Senate inquiry found that human remains had been disturbed. Now I realise that the press conference giving details of the forthcoming ANZAC Day commemorations here on the Peninsula could be looked on as a diplomatic affair, what with having the Turkish ambassador present and all, but what was said did not square with the truth.

As one of those who found human remains that had been uncovered by the road work, and reported this to authorities, I take a bit of a dim view of this repeated denial, especially as it contradicts comments made by some pretty senior Australian officials.

Just ahead of 25 April 2005, Prime Minister John Howard said something along the lines of it was inevitable that human remains would be uncovered during excavations on a field of conflict. (I have the exact quote somewhere).

In a statement before a budget estimates hearing by the Australian Senate's Standing Committee for Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade on February 14 this year, Mr Sullivan said:

"We still believe there is creditable evidence that human remains were uncovered in the Turkish road works of two years ago."

Of course, there could be a typo and the word "no" could be missing from the official Hansard record of proceedings before the word credible.

However, Mr Sullivan had just previously told the inquiry that human remains were uncovered after every winter’s rains. He later said that the reporting of human remains being found was a regular occurrence.

I do take exception, on behalf of the many people who saw human remains disturbed by the roadwork, to the following.

"The people who found the bone lost the bone, don't remember where they put it and said it was a human bone," Mr Sullivan said.

"And we said 'show us where it is and we'll have a look at it'.

"But there's no bone, and where did it come from? We don't know."

As the only two people who I know of who reported finding remains and who were asked about this issue by Australian authorities were my wife Serpil and myself I can say that we were never at any time asked to accompany any official out to the battle site, though we offered to do so.

There was no question of having lost any remains, how does one lose something one has not taken possession of. Any remains were left where they lay, though some were immediately removed by Turkish road workers after their foreman had been informed of their presence and shown their location. It should be said that Turkish authorities had given a pledge that if any remains were uncovered work on the road would be halted and a through study undertaken. Funny, no bones, no interruption to work.

Other human remains, not shown to Turkish officials or workers were still in the same place where they were found days after Serpil and I met with Australian officials.

Yes, the bones were human. I may not be a doctor (a failing of mine raised by a government senator during the senate inquiry) but I can recognise a fragment of a human jaw when I see one (clue: farm animals, especially those in Turkey, usually don’t have fillings in their teeth).

In one instance, a Sydney Morning Herald writer, Jonathan King, was shown a bone by one of the road workers just ahead of April 25, 2005. He had it tested by a Turkish doctor who confirmed it was human. The bone was then given to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

At the time of writing, a boot with bones inside has just been included in a display at a new state owned museum at Cape Helles. The boot was uncovered while excavations were taking place to restore the Turkish battery above V Beach. This was confirmed by the workers who undertook the excavations. Now, of course, the boot and the bones could have belonged to a sartorially elegant cow, but I somewhat doubt it.

I am sorry if this rant sounds like a response to a prick at my pride. It isn’t actually, it is more of a plea that officials from all sides accept that due care was not taken during the road works of 2005, and in other Turkish projects on the Peninsula and that due respect was not paid to the fallen or the historic fabric of the battlefields.

Want beer, need beer, end rant

Bill

Hi Bill

Frankly I think you are showing admirable restraint in your post considering your treatment by some of these 'officials'.

Regards
Andrew

Hi Andrew,

it is the way that history is being treated, and the denial of the damage done, that really sticks in my craw.

At least let it be said that the way the commemorative services on 25 April are now being conducted, as well as the far closer monitoring of any developments in the ANZAC sector by Australian officials, does at least reflect that lessons have been learned.

Bill

Bill,

It's remarkable how you manage to remain so restrained over this issue - I'd be cursing at the top of my voice and howling for blood.

It continues to stun me that these same officials completely ignore what they said not so long ago and now claim the exact opposite - simply to suit their current political aims.

It's pointless me trying to describe my disgust here as nothing I write could adequately reflect the way I feel.

Tim L.

Tim,

forum rule prevent me from giving full vent to my feelings on the road issue, though share holders in theat excellent Turkish brewer Efes smile at the prospect of sales going up every time a new gaffe is made by officials of various nations.

Cheers
Bill