The Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Alan Griffin, said today
the Turkish Government has informed the Australian Government
that works on the Second Ridge Road at Gallipoli will be completed
under the supervision of an archaeologist.
"The Turkish authorities, who share our commitment to
the preservation of the Gallipoli Historical National Park,
agreed to halt work on the Second Ridge Road some days ago
following concerns expressed by the Australian Government,"
the Minister said. "I am advised that some works remain
incomplete, posing a safety risk to visitors to the area.
Finalisation of the remaining 400m section of the Second Ridge
Road leading up to the Chunuk Bair memorial will commence
in the next few days. All work will be undertaken by the National
Road Works Department and monitored and directed by the Gallipoli
Historical National Park's archaeologist," Mr Griffin
said.
If, during these works, human remains are found, they will
be respectfully reinterred in the area they were found in
accordance with established protocols for dealing with uncovered
remains at Gallipoli.