CONTACTS Dangers for the unwary An island steeped in history A Defence base since 1915 Fleet Base West & EMERGENCY (ECC B119) 9553 2222 Bushfire Garden Island was not visited by the The Commonwealth HMAS STIRLING Indigenous community of the adjacent purchased Garden Fleet Base West Switchboard 9553 3333 Lighting of fires, including open flamed BBQs, mainland but featured in aboriginal dream- Island for Defence Garden Island is strictly prohibited. Gas BBQs are provided time lore. Although mapped by Dutch and purposes in 1915. In Fleet Base West Fire Station 9553 2528 free of charge at designated picnic sites. French explorers, the first land-fall was made WWII, four batteries 9553 2408 by Captain Stirling in 1827. He left a garden and were established on The dense vegetation of Garden Island Where the Royal Australian Navy livestock as supplies for his return in 1829 to the island as part of Ranger 9553 2432 presents a high bushfire risk in the summer, and nature live in harmony establish the Perth colony, Australia’s first free the Fremantle coastal 0410 694 070 potentially threatening lives, naval assets settlement (ie without convicts). fortification network, and wildlife. Prior to European settlement, Environment Officer 9553 2289 No-go areas and Careening Bay was home base for the top fires only started by lightning strikes. Stirling (now Governor), the support crews secret ‘Z Force’ submarines. Defence Environmental Internet Site For safety and security reasons, Closed of Captain Fremantle and the first Swan Frequent fires will destroy the island’s http://www.defence.gov.au/environment Naval Waters surrounding the Armaments River colonists camped at Cliff Head for Between wars, Garden Island was a popular unique stands of pine and teatree forest. Wharf and Careening Bay are restricted to several months while making preparations holiday destination with a main camp at Boating visitors can avoid bushfire risk public access. to establish the mainland settlement. A Careening Bay serviced by ferries. Cottages and during summer by staying on major tracks Similarly, operational precincts on Garden limestone-sided well remains from this era. shacks were scattered along the east coast. and close to the coast. Island, obvious by their surrounding fences Over the In 1973 a 4.2km causeway to the mainland or signage, are prohibited to unauthorised Hazardous coastal landforms following 175+ was completed to enable construction of public visitors. years, Garden wharves, workshops and accommodation for Crumbling Island has the new Indian Ocean naval base. Since its headlands of Waste management been involved commissioning in July 1978, HMAS Stirling limestone around – for healthy wildlife in many stages has truly lived up to its motto of “Go Forward” the island coast of Western with carefully controlled expansion. are dangerous. Rubbish bins at Pig Trough and Herring Australia’s Bays are serviced by the local council and development, Heritage listings “Defence will be a leader in Do not approach cliff paid for by the Garden Island Fishing and providing ship sustainable environmental edges or explore Garden Island has three entries on the Aquatic Association. replenishment management to support the ADF’s under over-hangs Commonwealth Heritage List: and careening for sail and then steam trading capability to defend Australia and as large sections In all other areas, please take away ships, fortifications during World War II, • The whole island can collapse without your waste when you leave. Tammars its national interests”. holiday escape for generations of Perth (for natural heritage values) warning. Advisory signs have been installed are currently free of diseases such as families, and most recently port services to • Cliff Point (Captain Stirling’s settlement) (Defence’s Environmental Vision, endorsed by but individual responsibility, including Salmonella. Disease may be introduced and the Secretary and Chief of the Defence Force as a over half the Australian fleet. • J Gun (Challenger) Battery, Entrance Point. component of Defence’s Environmental Policy) supervision of children, is also required in spread by inappropriately disposed rubbish this natural environment. and food scraps. Two shipwrecks in Careening Bay, Day Dawn and Dato, are on the Register of the National Estate. BBC477|012009 BBC487|032009 Environmental Guidelines for Visitors to Garden Island FLEET BASE WEST The jewel in Navy’s crown Managing Defence activities Sewage on boats – don’t Environmental vision Fleet Base West, encompassing HMAS Stirling, Defence must comply with Commonwealth is one of the largest industrial sites in Western legislation such as the Environment swim in it “FLEET BASE WEST and its people Australia and the RAN’s largest base in Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Untreated sewage will manage Garden Island and its Australia, being ‘home’ to over half the fleet. Act 1999 and International treaties such as from toilet waste surrounding waters by striving to protection of migratory seabirds. Defence is Fleet Base West’s primary role is to enable holding tanks on sustainably manage and conserve also committed, marine vessels the environment whilst supporting deployment of ships, submarines and through its ‘Good Clearance Diving Team 4. The 3000 plus should not be the ADF operational capabilities”. Neighbour’ discharged within personnel at FBW include personnel of a large policy, to achieve number of support ‘lodger units’ which provide Public access - where compatible 500m of land or within 100m of a stationary wherever vessel or a person in the water. services in logistics, maintenance, training, practicable the Responsibility for Garden Island is owned by the research and development and administration/ intent of Western Seawater samples from Garden Island’s environmental management Commonwealth. By-laws controlling public amenities. Australian law and popular beaches are regularly analysed The Base Support Manager (BSM, access are established under the Public Defence facilities take up less than 30% to meet community to ensure that the water remains fit for Defence Support Group WA), supported by Areas provisions of the Defence Act (1903). of Garden Island’s 1200 hectares. The expectations for recreational purposes. Commanding Officer HMAS Stirling, provides The Control of Naval Waters Act (1918) remainder of this beautiful 12km long, and managing its land leadership and has ultimate responsibility for and Regulations establish powers for the up to 1.5km wide, island is carefully managed and sea values. Fishing environmental protection. Superintendent of Garden Island Naval to conserve an environment little altered Waters (Commanding Officer HMAS Stirling) Recreational fishing since documented by early Dutch explorers. The BSM is supported by a Defence Quality and improvement to ensure the capacity for the Navy to must comply with WA Surrounding Garden Island are approximately Environment Officer who is responsible for undertake its operations, and include powers An Environmental Management System was licensing and bag and 2500 hectares of ‘Naval Waters’ for which the day-to-day environmental management and responsibilities for public safety. Other developed for FBW/HMAS Stirling in 2005. size limits. For further the Navy also has responsibilities to protect of the site. aspects, such as fisheries and protection of information, contact marine values. The FBW/HMAS Stirling OH&S, native fauna and flora, are primarily State Defence is one of the largest land External stakeholder management input the Department Environmental and Sustainability Committee responsibilities and are therefore subject to managers in Australia, entrusted with the is primarily achieved via regular liaison of Fisheries assists FBW’s 80 plus ‘lodger units’ to relevant State legislation. stewardship of over 3 million hectares with the WA Department of Environment (www.fish.wa.gov.au). identify and manage their own environmental of land, as well as significant sea and and Conservation for land-based issues. When HMAS Stirling was established, the responsibilities, and provides a forum for Spear fishing and gidgees are weapons and air space. Defence is very conscious of The Cockburn Sound Management Council, WA government negotiated an agreement working together to minimise impacts from therefore prohibited on Garden Island and the potential impacts from its activities. of which Defence is a member, provides that allowed for limited access, primarily general activities on the island. within Naval Waters. It is adopting ecologically sustainable management input on marine issues. by private boat, to areas outside restricted development principles and making them zones. The State provides support through A Public Area Ranger, seconded from an everyday part of its business. regular liaison and input into management the Department of Environment and decisions and secondment to Defence of the This brochure contains information on the Conservation, manages public access and environmental guidelines and responsibilities for Ranger. visitors to FBW and Garden Island. associated environmental issues..