Bulletin - Vol 8 No. 4 July/August 2005

Tacking Point Lighthouse vandalised again

Published in Port Macquarie News, Wednesday, 27 July 2005
Reproduced with permission

Reckless vandalism at Tacking Point Lighthouse has re-ignited debate over responsibility for the historic icon.

Vandals struck on Saturday night, smashing every window in the lighthouse and leaving nothing more than a trail of shattered glass.

The damage adds to the already deteriorating state of the building and surrounds. Paintwork on the lighthouse has eroded and the structure is clearly rusted. Graffiti has been covered, but is still visible through the white paint. And a burnt rubbish bin has not been replaced for some months.

Local residents are dismayed at the neglect of a tourist site and Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, NSW Maritime and the NSW Department of Lands are sharing or fighting over responsibility.

In theory, the lighthouse belongs to all three.

The Department of Lands and Waterways Authority own the lighthouse and is therefore responsible for its maintenance. NSW Maritime is responsible for the actual light and must keep it functioning. Port Macquarie-Hastings Council is responsible for maintenance of the surrounding land. 

A Department of Lands representative was in Port Macquarie yesterday, matching and measuring glass to replace in the lighthouse.

But the community wants greater commitment to the site. Port Macquarie photographer Gerry Walsh has recorded the damage before and is outraged by what he calls "long-term neglect of the site".

"For an historic site, and one of the busiest in Port during the current whale-watching season, those responsible should be doing a lot more to preserve and maintain this public asset", he told the Port News. "I have in the past raised the issues of vandalism, long-term environmental degradation and dangerous conditions (no safety barriers) at this site with council and through newspapers, without result".

Port Macquarie-Hastings Council cannot direct resources to buildings over which it has no authority, according to waste services and building manager Bob Bailey. That said, the council is negotiating with the Department of Lands to assume conditional responsibility for the lighthouse. "Should this handover of responsibility occur, then the council would respond to vandalism and maintenance issues as with any of its public buildings," Mr Bailey said.

In the meantime, the Department of Lands has committed to working with NSW Maritime and the council on strategies to improve security at the lighthouse.

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