ADF reveals Queenscliff residents were not notified of training operation, after claims the public was made aware

Queenscliff residents were not informed of the “frightening” military training operation on the Bellarine over the weekend, it can be revealed. The ADF has explained why.

The Australian Army did not warn Queenscliff residents via a letter drop about planned training involving “firing of blank ammunition” and helicopters.

Queenscliff residents told the Geelong Advertiser they woke to “traumatic” gunfire around 7am on Saturday morning.

The noise, which residents said was “unexpected, unexplained and unfamiliar”, was caused by military training along the Bellarine Peninsula.

An Australian Defence Force spokeswoman said on Saturday that the community had been notified by a letter drop and through a bulletin posted on its website on June 15.

On Tuesday the spokeswoman said the Army made “significant effort” to communicate its planned activities and provide adequate warning to residents.

But, she confirmed Queenscliff residents were “not notified by letter drop as it is over 5kms from the training area”.

“Army conducted training within the Non-Defence Training Area near the Bellarine Highway and Point Boulevard roundabout after engaging with relevant civilian authorities regarding the use of the training area,” she said.

“Army soldiers conducted letter drops in the residential Point Lonsdale communities west of the training area, just off Chiton Way, and the Lonsdale Tomato Farm northeast of the training area.

“They also door knocked the rural residences directly west and north of the training area. These areas were specifically selected as they were deemed to be directly impacted by the training.”

The Army would not say how many complaints it received.

Queenscliff Mayor Ross Ebbels said he had not personally been made aware of the exercise and would raise the matter with council.

Australian Defence Force military op spooks locals

The Army has shown contempt for the fear it caused Bellarine Peninsula residents after they woke to a training drill at 7am Saturday that included gun fire, a Queenscliff resident said.

One Queenscliff resident told the Addy was “frightening, sustained, unexplained and unfamiliar.”

The nearby Swan Island is an Australian Defence Force military training base.

“Being woken to unexpected, unexplained and unfamiliar sustained gunfire at sunrise is quite traumatic and could have been avoided with a bit more consideration for residents,” the resident said.

“Absolutely no problem with the area being used for military training, in fact we support it, just let us know properly when you’re going to open fire.”

“I’d dispute the ADF’s statement that the community were well-informed.

Security gatehouse to Swan Island facility on Port Phillip Bay, Vic.

“We live in the town and received no letter drop, no calls, no information or anything about the planned activity. We can’t be expected to be refreshing their website for vague updates. If they think they did a good job, they need to do much better.”

The Australian Defence Force says appropriate measures were taken to inform residents on the Bellarine Peninsula of its training in the region, despite locals waking up to the “terrifying” sounds of gunfire.

A Defence spokeswoman said the Australian Army was conducting training in the region which involved the occasional firing of blank ammunition and the use of helicopters.

“Australian Army personnel have recently been conducting training in the Bellarine Peninsula that will continue until late June 2022,” she said.

“We always seek to notify communities of training through a variety of methods to ensure the broadest public awareness.

“In this case, a training notice to detail this activity has been posted online since June 15, 2022, and local residents were notified in person and by letter drop.

“Local Victorian police were also notified well in advance of the training activity and have been working with the Army.”

She said the Bellarine Peninsula is home to a Commonwealth training facility and has been used in varying forms to train military personnel since before the First World War.

“The Australian Army appreciates the ongoing support of communities like those in the Bellarine Peninsula and appreciates the feedback and questions when we hold training in their area,” she said.

A spokeswoman for defence minister Richard Marles said “regrettably” not everyone was aware the training was ahead.

“Defence has sought to notify the public of a training program on the Bellarine Peninsula,” the spokeswoman said.

Australia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Richard Marles. (Photo by Roslan RAHMAN / AFP)

“As Defence have stated, they always seek to notify communities of training through a variety of methods to ensure the broadest public awareness.

“The feedback from the community is important, and if there are instances where the public should be better informed than we can certainly look into that.”

Borough of Queenscliffe Mayor Ross Ebbels said he was not aware of the planned exercise.

Cr Ebbels said council could have helped the ADF to ensure the community was aware of the training and said he would raise the matter with council.

“I will raise it with council to find out how the inforrmation was distributed and if we can help the defence force to that as well.

“We could have a good role to play and allay peoples’ concerns. If we could’ve got that information out more widely, it certainly would have helped.”

Silhouette of soldier Source: iStock / Getty Images

One woman said she feared for the community’s safety, following a recent attack in the Point Lonsdale area, which saw a speed camera vehicle struck by an offender with a metal pole.

“(I) thought a crazy gunman was on the loose especially after the crazy person attacked the speed camera vehicle the other day,” she said.

“Very sad times now, when you think the worse [sic].”

On it’s initial announcement posted on June 15, the ADF wrote: “The public should expect to see and hear military helicopters, as well as vehicles and military personnel carrying weapons.”

“Blank ammunition and pyrotechnics will be used for some aspects of the training.

“Army helicopters will also conduct flying operations primarily during the day with some instances of night time flying.

“The community should not be concerned during these training activities.”

For information about Army training visit www.army.gov.au and go to its “our news” section.

Originally published as ADF reveals Queenscliff residents were not notified of training operation, after claims the public was made aware