2019 Offshore Petroleum Exploration Acreage Release - nominated areas for comment - Department of Industry

Response 290198143

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About you

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Yourself

Commercial Fisher

Consultancy

Government Organisation

Industry Association/Professional Association

Local Community Leader

NGOs with an interest in Environmental Management and Wildlife Protection

Other NGOs

Petroleum Company (Operator)

Petroleum Company (Contractor)

Seismic Company

Tourism Operator

2019 Acreage Release Nominator

Other

What is the name of the individual or the represented organisation providing feedback?

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Department of Defence

In which Australian State or Territory are you located?

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Australia - ACT

Australia - NSW

Australia - NT

Australia - QLD

Australia - SA

Australia - TAS

Australia - VIC

Australia - WA

Australia - Other

International

Northern Territory / Western Australia Offshore Border

Please provide comments on how the release of the areas in this region may impact you.

Provide your comments below:

NT19-1-C, NT19-2-C, W19-1-C, W19-2-C, W19-3-C and W19-4-C are within the Northern Australia Exercise Area (NAXA) and Restricted Airspace R264. NT19-1-C and W19-2-C are within the Darwin Air Weapons Range.

Proponents are advised that they may be ordered to evacuate the NAXA, the Darwin Air Weapons Range, Restricted Airspace or any other gazetted Defence Practice Area (DPA) at short notice and unauthorised access to the area will be prohibited.

Proponents should also be aware of the risk of Unexploded Ordinance (UXO) in the area and assess if any risk mitigation actions are required. Defence provides no guarantee or indemnity regarding the safety or whereabouts of UXO.

Proponents should liaise with Defence (using the contact details provided in the General Comments) early in the project planning phase in order to facilitate deconfliction with Defence activities. Additionally, at least five weeks prior to commencement of activities, Defence should be notified regarding:

• the nature of planned infrastructure development (permanent or temporary);
• the positions and dimensions (lateral and vertical) of abovementioned infrastructure;
• any planned aviation activities;
• any planned seismic survey activities; and/or
• whether any wells are to be left suspended or plugged and abandoned.

Proponents should also follow all procedures and restrictions relating to Notices to Mariners (NOTMAR) and Notice to Airmen (NOTAM). Further information is available from the Australian Hydrographic Service and Airservices Australia.

Please read the further information provided in the General Comments.

Please select all that apply

NT19-1-C

NT19-2-C

W19-1-C

W19-2-C

W19-3-C

W19-4-C

Western Australia / Territory of the Ashmore and Cartier Islands Offshore Border

Please provide comments on how the release of the areas in this region may impact you.

Provide your comments below:

This region does not contain any Defence areas.

Western Australia - Offshore Kimberley Region

Please provide comments on how the release of the areas in this region may impact you.

Provide your comments below:

This region does not contain any Defence areas.

Western Australia - Offshore Pilbara Region

Please provide comments on how the release of the areas in this region may impact you.

Provide your comments below:

W19-21-C, W19-22-C, W19-23-C, W19-24-C, W19-25-C and W19-26-C are within the North Western Australia Exercise Area (NWXA). W19-21-C and W19-22-C are within Restricted Airspace R852, W19-23-C is within Restricted Airspace R852 and R854, W19-24-C is within Restricted Airspace R853, W19-25-C is within Restricted Airspace R854 and W19-26-C is within Restricted Airspace R859 and R861. W19-25-C and W19-26-C are within the Learmonth Air Weapons Range.

Proponents are advised that they may be ordered to evacuate the NWXA, the Learmonth Air Weapons Range, Restricted Airspace or any other gazetted Defence Practice Area (DPA) at short notice and unauthorised access to the area will be prohibited.

Proponents should also be aware of the risk of Unexploded Ordinance (UXO) in the area and assess if any risk mitigation actions are required. Defence provides no guarantee or indemnity regarding the safety or whereabouts of UXO.

Proponents should liaise with Defence (using the contact details provided in the General Comments) early in the project planning phase in order to facilitate deconfliction with Defence activities. Additionally, at least five weeks prior to commencement of activities, Defence should be notified regarding:

• the nature of planned infrastructure development (permanent or temporary);
• the positions and dimensions (lateral and vertical) of abovementioned infrastructure;
• any planned aviation activities;
• any planned seismic survey activities; and/or
• whether any wells are to be left suspended or plugged and abandoned.

Proponents should also follow all procedures and restrictions relating to Notices to Mariners (NOTMAR) and Notice to Airmen (NOTAM). Further information is available from the Australian Hydrographic Service and Airservices Australia.

Please read the further information provided in the General Comments.

Please select all that apply

W19-21-C

W19-22-C

W19-23-C

W19-24-C

W19-25-C

W19-26-C

Western Australia - Offshore Carnarvon Region (Deep Water)

Please provide comments on how the release of the areas in this region may impact you.

Provide your comments below:

W19-32-C, W19-34-C, W19-35-C, W19-36-C, W19-37-C, W19-38-C, W19-39-C and W19-43-C are within the North Western Australia Exercise Area (NWXA). W19-32-C, W19-34-C, W19-36-C, W19-37-C, W19-38-C and W19-39-C are within Restricted Airspace R853 and W19-43-C is within Restricted Airspace R862. W19-43-C is within the Learmonth Air Weapons Range.

Proponents are advised that they may be ordered to evacuate the NWXA, the Learmonth Air Weapons Range, Restricted Airspace or any other gazetted Defence Practice Area (DPA) at short notice and unauthorised access to the area will be prohibited.

Proponents should also be aware of the risk of Unexploded Ordinance (UXO) in the area and assess if any risk mitigation actions are required. Defence provides no guarantee or indemnity regarding the safety or whereabouts of UXO.

Proponents should liaise with Defence (using the contact details provided in the General Comments) early in the project planning phase in order to facilitate deconfliction with Defence activities. Additionally, at least five weeks prior to commencement of activities, Defence should be notified regarding:

• the nature of planned infrastructure development (permanent or temporary);
• the positions and dimensions (lateral and vertical) of abovementioned infrastructure;
• any planned aviation activities;
• any planned seismic survey activities; and/or
• whether any wells are to be left suspended or plugged and abandoned.

Proponents should also follow all procedures and restrictions relating to Notices to Mariners (NOTMAR) and Notice to Airmen (NOTAM). Further information is available from the Australian Hydrographic Service and Airservices Australia.

Please read the further information provided in the General Comments.

Please select all that apply

W19-27-C

W19-28-C

W19-29-C

W19-30-C

W19-31-C

W19-32-C

W19-33-C

W19-34-C

W19-35-C

W19-36-C

W19-37-C

W19-38-C

W19-39-C

W19-40-C

W19-41-C

W19-42-C

W19-43-C

W19-44-C

W19-45-C

W19-46-C

South-West Victoria - Offshore Otway Region

Please provide comments on how the release of the areas in this region may impact you.

Provide your comments below:

This region does not contain any Defence areas.

South-East Victoria - Offshore Gippsland Region

Please provide comments on how the release of the areas in this region may impact you.

Provide your comments below:

V19-3-C and V19-4-C are within Restricted Airspace R358.

Proponents are advised that they may be ordered to evacuate Restricted Airspace or any other gazetted Defence Practice Area (DPA) at short notice and unauthorised access to the area will be prohibited.

Proponents should also be aware of the risk of Unexploded Ordinance (UXO) in the area and assess if any risk mitigation actions are required. Defence provides no guarantee or indemnity regarding the safety or whereabouts of UXO.

Proponents should liaise with Defence (using the contact details provided in the General Comments) early in the project planning phase in order to facilitate deconfliction with Defence activities. Additionally, at least five weeks prior to commencement of activities, Defence should be notified regarding:

• the nature of planned infrastructure development (permanent or temporary);
• the positions and dimensions (lateral and vertical) of abovementioned infrastructure;
• any planned aviation activities;
• any planned seismic survey activities; and/or
• whether any wells are to be left suspended or plugged and abandoned.

Proponents should also follow all procedures and restrictions relating to Notices to Mariners (NOTMAR) and Notice to Airmen (NOTAM). Further information is available from the Australian Hydrographic Service and Airservices Australia.

Please read the further information provided in the General Comments.

Please select all that apply

V19-3-C

V19-4-C

V19-5-C

V19-6-C

V19-7-C

General Comments and File Upload

Please provide any general comments you may have on the potential areas for the 2019 Offshore Petroleum Exploration Acreage Release below:

Certain areas in the 2019 Offshore Petroleum Acreage Release coincide with military restricted airspace. Non-Defence flying operations in these areas are required to be conducted in accordance with Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) restrictions.

Proponents are advised that the Minister for Defence has the authority, under the Defence Force Regulations 1952, to gazette any area of sea or airspace as a Defence Practice Area (DPA) for carrying out Defence operations or practices. Operations in these areas are required to be conducted in accordance with Notice to Mariners (NOTMAR) restrictions.

There is potential for unexploded ordnance (UXO) on or in the sea floor in areas where Defence operates and especially in Air Weapons Range Areas. Therefore, proponents should be aware of the risks involved in conducting offshore exploration and development activities. The potential presence of UXO carries with it an associated risk of detonation. Defence takes no responsibility for:

• reporting the location and type of ordnance dropped in the areas of interest to the permit holders;
• identification of or removal of any UXO; or
• any loss or damage suffered or incurred by the company or any third party arising out of, or directly related to, UXO.

As a consequence, the Australian Government provides no guarantee or indemnity regarding the safety or whereabouts of UXO.

Contact Details - All notifications and liaison:
Offshore Petroleum,
Property Management Branch
E-mail: Offshore.Petroleum@defence.gov.au
Post: PO BOX 7925, CANBERRA BC, ACT 2600