It Can Kill
It Can Kill

Unexploded Ordnance Within Australia

Ammunition which has been fired, but has not gone off, is particularly dangerous as all the normal safety arrangements have been overcome. In this case very little handling may be needed to make the item of ammunition go off. This ammunition is known as Unexploded Ordnance (UXO).

Actions on finding a suspicious item

  1. If an Item is found - DO NOT TOUCH IT. This includes making any attempt to move the item to a 'safe' location.
  2. Mark the location so that it can be found later. Coloured tape or paint make easily recognised marker material.
  3. Inform the property owner, park ranger, prime contractor, site foreman or site supervisor of the find.
  4. Inform the Police that a possible ammunition item has been found. They will instigate a request for Defence personnel to attend and dispose of the item.

If you should find a suspicious item, that may be a UXO, do not touch or disturb it. It's been there for many years, it won't hurt you if you don't disturb it.
Contact POLICE they will arrange for military experts to attend and dispose of it.

Unless the UXO was deliberately disturbed (picked up, played with, kicked, thrown, etc) there are no known instances, in Australia, where a UXO has injured a member of the public.

UXO NEWS

The Department of Defence is proactive in cleaning previously affected UXO Areas, for more information on these projects got to UXO News and Updates