MEDIA RELEASE BY HON. LES JOHNSON,  MHR FOR HUGHES,  OPPOSITION WHIP

2 BOYLE STREET, SUTHERLAND, 2232, Phone: 521.6262_____ 19.6.1979

ARMY ADMITS HEATHCOTE ROAD SHELLED:  ÃÂ³ÃÂ

The Minister for Defence has admitted,  almost eleven months after

enquiries were first made that the Heathcote Road had been shelled

as a result of Defence Force activity on the Holsworthy Field ,

Firing Range.  .

Mr. Johnson,  MHR for Hughes,  said yesterdayÂ· that the incident

occurred on July 14th,  1978 and was reported to him by a constituent

with Army experience.  .

The Department of Defence has informed Mr. Johnson that the damage

was caused by a 105 mm shell.

Mr. Johnson said though the damage by Defence Department standards

was considered minor,  the fact that a public road (less than a

mile from Australia's only nuclear reactor) was shelled was a

cause of grave concern.

The Minister for Defence has informed Mr. Johnson that following

the incident,  a special working party was established to examine

safety measures. As a result Â·  . .  Â· .  all procedures relating to

the Field Firing Range are now subject to triple checking and an

area of 1700 metres around the Atomic Energy Research Establishment

has been noted on all military maps as a restricted area.

Mr. Johnson said that it was totally unsatisfactory that eleven

months had to pass before the public and the Parliament was given

any official information and re-assurance on this matter.

