Resurfacing of the Second Ridge Road started in late August.
The Turkish authorities informed the Australian Government
of this work, which was completed according to plan. However,
following that resurfacing work, further work on the roadside
verge appears to have caused some damage. As
soon as the Australian Government learned of this damage,
we requested that work be stopped, which the Turkish authorities
immediately agreed to.
This matter is
being investigated further. Australian embassy officials in
Turkey are in very close contact with the Turkish authorities
on this issue. We
have reiterated to the Turkish authorities the importance
of conducting these works in a sensitive and careful manner,
which of course they understand and appreciate. We
understand that the further works on the road verge have uncovered
human remains. We are awaiting further information from Turkish
authorities regarding this.
The Minister for
Veterans’ Affairs, Alan Griffin, said today that he is
concerned that there is again a problem with a road in the
Gallipoli area following the problems with the Anzac Cove
road in 2005. “I
have questioned the process currently in place for notifying
the Australian Government of road works as I believe they
may not be sufficient. I will investigate if more formal protocols
are required,” said Mr Griffin.
The Second Ridge
Road is located in the Gallipoli Historic National Park along
no mans land between Lone Pine and Quinn's Post. The road
runs off Anzac Cove Road and provides access to the Lone Pine
Cemetery, Turkish 57th Regiment Memorial, Chunuk Bair and
Ataturk memorials.
The Australian
lines were on one side of the road and the Turkish lines were
on the other. Following the disastrous casualties suffered
by the Turkish forces on 19 May, an armistice was held on
24 May to bury the dead. Either after the Australians evacuated
the peninsula or after the war a track later upgraded to the
present road was constructed. The road is clearly marked on
the 1919 era map in Charles Bean's Gallipoli Mission.