HydroScheme 2025

• Status: Planned Year 1
• Date: Jun 2025 - Nov 2025
• Area: 482 NM²
• Contractor: TBC

Abbott Point is a pivotal shipping hub that primarily serves the coal industry and plays a significant role in both local and national economies*. Its deep-water capabilities allow for the accommodation of large bulk carriers, but its proximity to the Great Barrier Reef make safety of navigation a high priority.

The SI 1019 survey area extends from the northern boundary of a previous HIPP survey (SI 1007) and comprises an area of low-quality data within the Two-Way Route.

Depths in the survey area are predominately 45 to 60 metres. Most survey data used in current charts was collected in 1959, using technology that did not provide full seafloor coverage. As a consequence, unknown hazards may exist in the area. This survey will achieve full seafloor coverage and will increase maritime safety through this section of the Two-Way Route and thereby help to ensure the protection of the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef.

*nqbp.com.au

• Status: Planned Year 1
• Date: Jan 2026 - Jun 2026
• Area: 449 NM²
• Contractor: TBC

Situated off Cape Leeuwin, this survey area extends inshore from the traffic separation scheme and main shipping routes off the southwest corner of Western Australia. This location is adjacent to one of the busiest stretches of ocean in the region and this survey aims to enhance the navigational safety of vessels that proceed further inshore.  

Much of the area was last systematically surveyed in 1975-1978, using technology that was not able to ensure full feature detection. This survey expands on recent coastal LiDAR surveys conducted in 2017-2019.

Increased confidence in the location and extent of navigational hazards will result in assisting mariners in maintaining safety of navigation and the protection of the marine environment.

• Status: Planned Year 1
• Date: Sep 2025 - Mar 2026
• Area: 276 NM²
• Contractor: TBC

This survey is situated in a region of high ecological and cultural significance. The sound supports a diverse range of marine life and is known for its stunning natural beauty. One of this unique areas highlights is Yowjab (Montgomery Reef) which is, due to the large tidal range, suddenly exposed as the tide recedes; this also creates a river through the reef that is fringed by a large number of waterfalls. At low tide, the area becomes a haven for wading birds and provides an import habitat for numerous species including marine turtles, dugong and estuarine crocodile*.

Passenger shipping predominates as cruise companies cater to tourism demand. The majority of this navigationally complex area has been poorly surveyed and includes unsurveyed sections of Talbot Bay and an area to the south of Wulajarlu Island. The aim of the survey is to ensure maritime safety in the area and to investigate currently charted recommended tracks with a view to realignment to meet the emerging needs of regional shipping.

*exploreparks.dbca.wa.gov.au

• Status: Planned Year 1
• Date: May 2025 - Mar 2026
• Area: 2224 NM²
• Contractor: TBC

SI 1057 is the first of a tranche of surveys planned over a three-year period in the region. SI 1070 and SI 1071 (scheduled in subsequent financial years) will extend the surveyed region eastward towards Lynedoch Bank.

The survey area lies almost entirely within the Oceanic Shoals Marine Park, an ecologically sensitive and geologically unique region that provides a habitat for a plethora of marine flora and fauna, including sponges, sea squirts, sea snakes, marine turtles and fish*.

Shoals with depths as shallow as 5m, are scattered throughout the area, with intervening depths up to 55m. As the area has not been systematically surveyed using modern methods, this survey will provide a full coverage of the seabed and will ensure that all shoals are accurately mapped, and the data included on navigational products. This will assist in improving the safety of mariners transiting the area.

*parksaustralia.gov.au

• Status: Planned Year 1
• Date: Jul 2025 - Feb 2026
• Area: 341 NM²
• Contractor: TBC

The SI 1058 survey area is situated to the north of Cuthbert Point and extends eastward from the Goulburn Islands. The majority of the area falls within the Arnhem Marine Park, which is characterised by a gently sloping seafloor with dispersed pinnacles. The area sustains diverse communities of marine life and attract large numbers of foraging seabirds*.

Parts of the area have been sparsely surveyed in 1959, but no recent surveys have been undertaken. Charted depths for the area range from 5 to 34 metres. The majority of shipping, typically cargo vessels, follow a recently surveyed route along the survey areas' southern boundary and pass between North and South Goulburn Island. Other shipping, however, transit through the main area. The area has consequently been identified as a survey priority to help ensure safe navigation through this relatively shallow and ecologically important area.

*parksaustralia.gov.au

• Status: Planned Year 1
• Date: Jan 2026 - Jul 2026
• Area: 489 NM²
• Contractor: TBC

SI 1061 extends from Deal Island to Curtis Island and is bisected by several major shipping routes between the north coast of Tasmania and east coast of the Australian mainland. Much of the area lies within the Beagle Marine Park, which is characterised by rocky reefs and diverse sponge gardens. The area is also an important foraging area for seabirds, such as the Common Diving Petrel and Short-tailed Shearwater which breed on the islands*.

Depths in the area range from the shore of exposed reefs and rocky islands to over 70 metres. Rocks and shoals pose a substantial risk to navigation and is compounded by the poor chart quality of the area; less than 3% of the area has been surveyed to modern standards, and much of the survey work done in the area dates back as far as the 1880's.

HIPP, over recent years, successfully surveyed large areas of this region. This includes the adjacent survey of SI 1030 completed in 2024 and the major LiDAR survey of the Furneaux Group (SI 1032) conducted during HydroScheme 2022. These efforts will provide full bathymetric coverage and consequently greatly increase chart quality in the region.

*parksaustralia.gov.au

• Status: Planned Year 1
• Date: Aug 2025 - Feb 2026
• Area: 641 NM²
• Contractor: TBC

The majority of SI 1062 falls within the Dampier Marine Park. This is an area of high environmental value and provides a feeding ground for seabirds and turtles after nesting. Humpback whales also migrate through the area and the seafloor is rich with sponges and other important benthos*. 

A considerable amount of shipping transits the survey area when accessing the iron ore terminals at Port Walcott (Cape Lambert). Depths in the area range from 6 to 20 metres, with the areas outside the maintained depth channel and recommended tracks, containing numerous shoals.

Improving bathymetric data quality outside the main track is a priority because historical data collection in this area dates from 1872 to 2002, and consequently, was not acquired using modern data acquisition technologies. Extending modern coverage allows vessels greater maneuverability and collision avoidance.

*parksaustralia.gov.au

• Status: Planned Year 1
• Date: Feb 2026 - Aug 2026
• Area: 641 NM²
• Contractor: TBC

SI 1063 survey continues the HIPP survey work along the southern coast of Kangaroo Island. The area is partly within the Southern Kangaroo Island Marine Park; one of Australia’s most important breeding sites for Australian sea lions, this nutrient rich area is abundant in marine mammals, fish, seabirds and benthic organisms*.

Much of the area has never been systematically surveyed. Previous surveys within this area mostly date from the 1990's and used technology that was not able to ensure full feature detection. Numerous, unconfirmed shoal features have been reported by vessels transiting the area, these may pose a hazard to navigation.

Acquisition of full bathymetric coverage from this survey will ensure that accurate nautical information is available for this region, enabling better navigation safety.

*www.marineparks.sa.gov.au

• Status: Planned Year 1
• Date: Oct 2025 - Mar 2026
• Area: 4392 NM²
• Contractor: TBC

Situated within the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea Marine Park, SI 1065 will survey the deep sea plains and canyons of the Queensland Plateau.  The survey excludes McDermott Bank and South Flinders Reefs (lying at a depth of approximately 21 metres and previously surveyed) and will focus on surveying depths ranging from 500 to 1500 metres.

Some surveys have previously been conducted in the region, most comprehensively in 1990-91. However, none have provided complete coverage of the seafloor, potentially leaving many submarine features such as seamounts and canyons, and terrain which sustains Key Environmental Features (KEFs), undiscovered within the marine park.

• Status: Planned Year 2
• Date: Jul 2026 - Jan 2027
• Area: 318 NM²
• Contractor: TBC

SI 1066 is planned as a northward extension of SI 1058 and is scheduled for the 2026/2027 financial year.

As with SI 1058 little survey effort has previously been made in this area, limited surveys were undertaken in 1959, 1990 and 2009, but almost the entire area has never been systematically surveyed. Although depths for the area generally fall in the 30 to 50 metre range, shoal areas with depths from 9m are charted.

Surveying this area will ensure navigational products are updated with a complete and current bathymetric dataset.

• Status: Planned Year 2
• Date: Aug 2026 - Jan 2027
• Area: 322 NM²
• Contractor: TBC

This survey will build on the work effort planned (SI 1062) and previously undertaken (SI 1037) by HIPP projects and is scheduled for the 2026/2027 financial year.

Depths in the area are charted in the 30 to 50 metre range, but no recent surveys have been conducted in the area. Most date from the 1950's and some as far back as 1840!

A relatively high volume of shipping transit through parts of the area on the approach to Port Walcott and Dampier. This has led to the area being identified as a priority, in order to ensure that any hazards to shipping, are identified and mitigated through the update of navigational products.

• Status: Planned Year 2
• Date: Jan 2027 - Jun 2027
• Area: 397 NM²
• Contractor: TBC

Continuing the substantial survey effort in the region, SI 1069 is designed to complete an area to the north of Finders Island.

A substantial volume of shipping crosses the survey area, and it is considered an important candidate for HIPP due to the lack of recent survey data. Most surveys were undertaken in the 1940's and 1950's, with a limited area also surveyed in the 1980's. None of these surveys are to modern standards and provide limited coverage. This survey will provide full seafloor coverage and improve navigational information through this complex region.

• Status: Planned Year 2
• Date: May 2026 - Jan 2027
• Area: 1830 NM²
• Contractor: TBC

SI 1070 extends the surveyed region eastward from SI 1057 towards Evans Shoal and surrounds an area that was previously comprehensively surveyed in 1997; therefore, the central polygon does not require re-survey.

Charted depth for the region extends from approximately 30m to over 300 metres. Shoals in the previously surveyed area, such as Flinders Shoal, indicate that it is possible that undiscovered shoals may exist. As shipping levels are considerable across the area it is important to schedule as a HIPP activity to confirm that the areas is safe for use by maritime traffic.

• Status: Planned Year 3
• Date: May 2027 - Jan 2028
• Area: 1742 NM²
• Contractor: TBC

Extending to the east of SI 1070, and abutting a previously surveyed area to the west, SI 1071 is scheduled for the 2027/2028 financial year. Similar to SI 1057 the area includes a substantial portion of the Oceanic Shoals Marine Park, which is an area of significant ecological sensitivity and geological interest.

Limited survey data is currently available for the region, the most recent being single beam echo sounder data acquired in the late 1980's with spacing between survey lines typically a nautical mile, which does not provide an ideal picture of the seabed. This survey will provide full bathymetric coverage using multibeam echo sounder and will be to modern survey standards.