Maralinga - Start Planning Now

Hi Setsujoku

It was a fantastic trip, to the point that it would be one of my best outback trips that we have undertaken.

As for Robin, he is unreal and what he does not know on the area is not worth knowing at all. It is Robin alone that makes this visit what it was and he is the biggest asset that Maralinga has.

My advise for anyone heading that way is to plan your stay as long as possible, We were there for 3 nights and it was too short, there is just so much to see and learn about.



Cheers


Stephen

Hi Allan

You would greatly enjoy a visit to Maralinga and the airstrip is still in as good a condition now, as when you landed in 1957.

There is such a lot of history associated with the area and Robin makes the most perfect guide. As for the Centre line, after leaving Maralinga, we took the long way round back to the Anne Beadell Highway and on my permit, we were able to go here:





Cheers


Stephen

Stepen, I have been to the 300 mile point, in company with Mick and Connie actually, but I have not seen that "June 1951" plaque. Judging by the fastening screws it looks original and does not appear to have been rehabilitated by Connie with a facsimile plaque and tamper-proof fastenings. Was the photo taken long ago and where is it located?

Note also that the title was "L.R.W.E." which was the original "Long Range Weapons Establishment" before a later change to "Weapons Research Establishment". (In truth, some did not go "Long", either by intent or circumstance)

I have more recently driven part of the Centre Line, west of the Stuart Highway but the section that I really wanted to revisit is from Range E, near Koolymilka out through Mt Eba station to Mirikata which was my daily work area. Alas, no go! I wanted to relive those heady days of my youth and show Roz where I developed my affection for The Bush and its tracks. The truth is that I may get hopelessly lost as, to my knowledge, no maps are published of those Range tracks. At the time I was denied any map and simply had to learn from verbal direction and experience. I'm not confident that today either my memory or the the tracks are still the same!

Link to Landline episode

Hi Lyn

I did not see the Landline segment, but I will watch it and see what it had to say.

What I tell you here is that there are still many people out there that think that the 3000 square Mile area of Maralinga is still under Commonwealth Rule....Wrong.


On the 18th December 2009, Section 400 (The Maralinga Testing area ) was officially handed back to the Maralinga Tjarutja people who now manage and run the area.

As for testing in the Woomera area, it has always had various testing over the years and even when I visited three Degree Confluences on a number of Station, I have always had to get permission from the Dept of Defence in Woomera as well as the Station owners. I was told that if they were testing, I would not be able to visit those location, purely on a safety issue.

Cheers

Stephen

Thanks Lyn, Landline is a great program but I had missed that episode. Watching it now thanks to you, brought back memories.

Referring back to Stephen's original post, bear in mind that Woomera and Maralinga are quite separate entities with very different activities (thank goodness), and they are now separately administered. One for active Defence activity and the other for tourism.

The more recent Woomera requirement for pastoralists to vacate during some tests is interesting. I am unsure if it is because of increased risk or increased attention to safety. As was said in the Landline episode, it was well known during my time that the station people used the shelters as a platform to observe missile tests. And for our part, we simply took care not to hold them in hand whilst lighting the "blue touch paper". LOL Ahh, those were the days!

Hi Phil

Unfortunately I have not seen the Landline story, but what you have stated is very far from the truth, as like I have said above, Maralinga is not part of the Woomera Range.

You had a recent post about your first visit to the Simpson Desert which you greatly enjoyed, and a top place it is.

The area leading to and around Maralinga is very unique, starting off with the Nullarbor Regional reserve and then as you enter the Ooldea Range you then enter Australia's Largest Desert System, the Great Victoria Desert.

If you are into Fauna and Flora, this area will kill the Simpson in every way, as well as seeing early European evidence of trying to tame this arid environment and turn it into rich Pastoral Land in the late 1870's









I could go on and on, but we loved the place and will be going back again next year, as there was a lots that we did not get the time to see.

Also the very high quality roads that lead in from Ceduna mean that any type of vehicle will be possible to visit Maralinga, with less than 80 kilometres of good quality dirt roads to travel on.



Cheers


Stephen

Hi Phil, Ready yourself to be "jumped on".

Stephen's original post was about Maralinga, the site of nuclear weapon trials. Lyn's reply was in reference to the Landline program of theWoomera Range, which whilst very interesting, is not directly associated and they are some 500km apart.

No need to concern yourself with "What is there to see or do" in the Woomera area as you will not gain access to the Range launch and near downrange area. The residential village of Woomera does contain a Missile Park and museums of past days and can be very interesting to the traveller.

Phil,

Sorry that you found it uninteresting,

I found this piece of Australian history very interesting, I can just imagine the conditions that the infrastructure was built under back in the 1950's.

Lyn

Steve, Allan thanks for the encouragement. That is exactly what I was after. I never really looked. Not too happy personally about the bitumen as we prefer the quiet, uncrowded and isolated areas. But that's the way it is.

Lyn You missunderstood my post. I want to find out what's there and see if it suits us.

I need to look more. But we want to drive the length of the Canning next. Solo of course!

Thanks guys

Phil

Hi Jack

You hit the nail right on the head when you stated "It's best to know the facts and potential risks involved before you go"

You have not done your homework and what you have given is very false and miss leading information. Yes I have and read the book and all the places where Robin takes his guests are 100% safe for the public.

It is a pity that these myths deter many people from such a fantastic place.

If there are areas that are unsafe, as like I have said the Maralinga area is over 3000 sq kilometres in size, I can assure you that you will be no where near them, as the moment that anyone leaves the village, it is uner the strict supervision of Robin and no one can just wander off and do what they like.

Make the effort to see the area yourself in person before posting false statements.



Cheers



Stephen

A quick google will show loads of stories and reports of the situation at Maralinga today + roads and touristy info on getting there and what to do and see.
I think the main point is what you can't see is where the problem lies.
Read them and the above book and make up your own mind !
Muffin Man

The problem is with this issue is the usual. An individual, Alan Parkinson, as a leading identity engaged on the Maralinga cleanup had personal ideals and standards which were at odds with Australian Government administration providing the funding for the cleanup. The Government on the other hand endeavoured to achieve and finalised the project within the approved budget and were, as governments are, not amenable to having a thorn in their side. Parkinson was understandably dismayed eventually displaced. Not surprisingly he wrote the book referred to above presenting an "exposure" of the Government's shortcomings, presenting a case which purports ti vilify him. Also not surprisingly, the Government or others possibly supporting its case, have not responded to Parkinson's claims.

So we now have the situation where we have a aggrieved individual with a vested interest versus an unresponsive and defensive authority and with limited opportunity for a concerned or interested individual to determine the rights or wrongs of the situation. All one can do is make up one's own mind and action, but it is hardly appropriate to criticise another's point of view as inappropriate. It can be appropriate however to point out that there is an alternative group of evidence and viewpoint.

For my part, considering the limitation of access and the briefness of visit, I would not be concerned about my personal safety due to a visit.

I found this recording of an interview with Alan Parkinson to be most interesting and informative. Thought I'd share it..hope it works??

Interview with Alan Parkinson

Hi Leigh

Thanks for that great link, it works a treat and cements the words that I have said.

Cheers


Stephen

Hi Bruce

Thanks for that and I intend to give Robin all the support that he needs through this great site.

I think that I am safe to say that anyone that has been privileged in the past to visit Maralinga and had anything to do with Robin would back my very worlds.

If you get the chance it well worth the time to get there, but make sure you stay longer than we did, there is just so much to see.

I will keep everyone posted.


Cheers


Stephen

Already pencilled in for next year Stephen.

Looking forward to it.

Cheers, Bruce.

Ha Ha,
Good one Jack.
MM

Hi Jack,

Yes I do have the book by Alan Parkinson - Maralinga, Australia's Nuclear Waste Cover-up.

I also agree that I am not in a position to guarantee anybodies long term health, but the facts are that were the Range Tour goes, all traces from the past have been removed and cleaned up. I was only speaking with Robin early this morning before your post, and the same question was raised.

Government officials do go out and do regular check out on the range and Robin was telling me that one of the Scientists has stated that it is 100% safe where the general public go.

Also another point is that where you actually stay in the village, it is around 30 kilometres south from where the actual test were carried out all those years ago.

As Robin also quoted "Do you think I would touch or go into an area that was not safe"

He lives there and he wants to have a long life and would not put himself at risk, after all he is the one that lives there all the time.

I do get very defensive when I hear a statement like what you have said, it is not bullying behaviour, but plain facts that I have been out on the range and seen what is there, have you???

Each to their own, and if it was not safe, it would not have the backing for Tourism from the Commonwealth Government.

It is not meant to be a muck raking post, but rather a post to let people know that there have been many untruths and myths about the area and they are not true.

I hope that this post is read by someone in power in Canberra, and if they feel what I have said is wrong and not correct, I would like them to please clarify what I have said that is misleading.


Cheers


Stephen

Stephen - you seem to rely very heavily on what one person has to say (no disrespect intended to Robin). But the facts ARE, unless you are driving around with a geiger counter on the front of your vehicle, then you can't actually be sure. If you ingest a tiny spec of plutonium picked up from your boots or tyres (even once your home) you can develop cancer - FACT.

You seem to want to make every response a personnel attack if other don't share your view. Unlike you, I don't use this forum as self promotion and don't disrespect people by talking down to them. Comments similar to "have you be there, No - well I have" implying that other people know nothing and have nothing to offer is simply arrogant, naive and immature.

But I must say, I really liked your previous threads where you stated “I am the first person to stand at this location” whilst holding your GPS at a confluence in the Simpson – a bit rich don’t you think?

You need to understand that there lots of other people who travel into remote areas and do hard core stuff, they just choose not to big note themselves on a forum site.

You seems to thrive on a few similar liked minded users on this site to massage your ego.

I believe in life, everybody has something to offer, so I don’t usually criticise other people’s view (unless I am provoked).

P.S. Suggest you start using a spill chucker before you hit the “submit” button in future.

All the best

Jack

I do not know what I have done to offend you, the way that you are having a personal dig at me and other like minded members here on the forum. As for big noting oneself here on the forum, that if false as well. As members, we share our personal experiences through Blogs and Forum details, which in return may give other travellers to those areas what they can expect to see and do for themselves when visiting those areas.

I have always prided myself for giving reliable and accurate information for the very reason that people like you can use what is given as know that it is true.

I still stand by what I have said and I now suggest that you have a listen to the link that fellow EO Member Leigh has supplied, and hear what Alan has to say, as this shows that what I stated is correct.

Like Alan states himself, yes there are still 100 Sq kilometres that are contaminated within the 3200 sq kilometres area of Maralinga, but well way from where Robin takes you.

As for the Simpson Confluence, that was over 6 years ago and it is well out of the way of any normal Simpson trip, including a Madigan Line Crossing and to be fair, I did say first White person, as I know that the area was used for thousands of years by Aboriginal people. That part of the Simpson was not even visited in the 60's when they were looking for oil, so if I am not the first white person to stand on that exact spot, who was. I did hear from one member at that time who said that he came very close to the area, when he was out in the Simpson doing SAS Training.

The important thing these days with this site and any site on the internet, what is said is and will be read by people all round the world, and giving the wrong information will backfire in some form or the other.



Stephen

Hi Robin

I was a great trip and we will be doing it again, it was just that great.

If you are lucky enough to do one of the side tour, which we were very privileged to do, four wheel drive is a must, with low tyre pressures and pin striping country to add.

Before the trip I used for the very first time Auto Skin-or the like and this side trip gave it a very real test, to the point that it was peeling off of my mirrors and the sides of all vehicles were very scratched, well except mine. The side trip was into the site of the actual Ooldea Soak and with out Robin, it would have been impossible to find.

There is some great country out there and Robin will point you in the right direction on what you require.



Cheers


Stephen

Hi Bob

Definitely make this high on your bucket list, it was such a very rewarding and educational trip.

Yes we all came back with a glowing experience.....LOL

When Robin was passing around a few items, I did take them but Fiona my wife would not, she was concerned. Robin then went on to say, that it was safe, or else he would not be handling it, and that put her at ease.


Thanks for the reply.



Cheers


Stephen