Explosives find prompts warning on correct procedure

Mines and Energy Minister Geoff Wilson has reminded Queenslanders of the appropriate procedures to follow if explosives are found.

Mr Wilson said the Department of Mines and Energy Explosives Inspectorate was contacted by police late Tuesday afternoon and advised that a bundle of five sticks of explosives had been found by fishermen at Coondoo Creek, 20 kilometres east of Gympie.

“Two inspectors from the Explosives Inspectorate in the south-east region travelled from Brisbane to take possession of the explosives that night,” Mr Wilson said.

“The fishermen who found the explosives had taken them to a nearby bridge where the Gympie to Tin Can Bay Road crosses Coondoo Creek, and then notified police.

“The fishermen did the right thing in notifying police of the explosives, but it’s important that anyone finding explosives or suspected explosive items contact the police directly before moving any object.

“Old explosives, particularly nitro-glycerine-based explosives such as AN60 or Gelignite can become very unstable with age and are sensitive to shock.

“Such items often require destruction in situ because they are too sensitive even for experts to move safely.”

The Gympie to Tin Can Bay Road was closed in the vicinity and traffic was diverted via forest tracks around the bridge over Coondoo Creek.

Once the Inspectors of Explosives had secured the explosives, the road was re-opened about 8pm.

Mr Wilson urged anyone seeking more information on the correct procedure for dealing with explosives to access the Queensland Government web site at http://www.nrm.qld.gov.au/mines/explosives/index.html

Media Inquiries: Brooke Johnson (07) 3224 7332