A message from Hazel Hawke Chair of the Heritage Council Following the success of the Olympics and Paralympics, Australia is now in reflective mode as we contemplate our achievements and shortcomings in this Centenary of Federation year. There is much to celebrate, and celebrate we did on 1 January with the street parade, re-enactment and the final moving ceremony in Sydney's Centennial Park. It is only fair that we also acknowledge the areas in which we did not make positive advances in our first hundred years. While the postwar years marked a huge surge in our national prosperity it was also the period that saw the greatest destruction of our cultural heritage. The relaxing of height controls in our cities and the mania for all that was new and modern was a fateful combination that condemned too many fine Victorian buildings and streetscapes to the scrap heap. Fortunately the last twenty years have seen a very positive reaction the other way, with the rise of the environmental and heritage lobbies and the passing of heritage legislation in all states. There is now concerted action to give heritage concerns a united front through such forums as the National Meeting of Heritage Council Chairs and Officials. This year's event was held in Sydney at the end of March. I hope it will be possible for the heritage councils to achieve some consensus on how to balance heritage conservation and development as our cities meet the challenges of the 21st century. The Heritage Office has recently published a set of brochures which describe the processes of the Heritage Council. I am sure they will assist in developing greater public understanding of our role in the development process. From the Minister Andrew Refshauge MP Deputy Premier Minister for Urban Affairs and Planning Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Minister for Housing As a keen recreational diver, one of my special interests is maritime archaeology and I was intrigued when the wreck site of the K-IX submarine was first discovered by Heritage Office maritime archaeologists in 1999. In March this year I had the pleasure of joining the community in a celebration of this unique maritime heritage site. Built in 1922, the K-IX was at one time part of the Dutch navy and then later the Australian Navy. The K-IX was lost ashore in 1945 at what is now known as Submarine Beach near Seal Rocks. With the support of an enthusiastic local community, local council, veteran's associations and the Netherlands Consulate, I unveiled a plaque to the site at the picturesque Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse. This community's celebration of the wreck was remarkable and again showcases the grass-roots demand to preserve and learn about our varied heritage. I was also pleased to launch the Seal Rocks Information Sheet which details the history of some thirty vessels wrecked in this region. In fact, NSW has the largest collection of archaeological wreck sites of any Australian state with over 1800 historic shipwrecks. To find out more about shipwrecks, search the Australian Shipwreck Database. It is important that we recognise the value of our maritime heritage and work to maintain the community's interest and involvement. Dr Andrew Refshauge, Deputy Premier, Mr Ed Reitsma, Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Mrs Iris Atkinson with the new interpretative plaque for the K-IX submarine which lies beneath the sands of Submarine Beach, near Seal Rocks. Photograph by Steve Duncan RAAF Williamtown Mrs Iris Atkinson poses in front of the newly beached K-IX submarine in 1945. Fifty-six years later Mrs Atkinson joined in the celebration of the heritage site and new plaque. Photograph courtesy of Iris Atkinson