Exercise Dumaresq 2024 will occur 29-30 October this year along the Gold Coast, Qld, and Tweed coast NSW.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), Transport for NSW (TfNSW), and Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) are conducting this major marine annual exercise in support of the National Plan for Maritime Environment Emergencies 2020 (National Plan).
The Exercise will simulate an oil spill from a ship. The ‘oil’ drifts on to beaches and into waterways impacting coastal environments and wildlife.
The Exercise focuses on the cross-border response to a simulated level 3 marine pollution incident. (This is the highest classification of incident in the National Plan). It will use incident management and response teams, including shoreline, marine, wildlife, and Hazardous Noxious Substance (HNS) units.
Frequently asked questions
Impacts on location or environment
Is there any danger to the environment or wildlife?
The Exercise will not use any toxic substances, material or equipment. There will be no impact on wildlife or marine life.
Will any roads, pathways or beaches be closed or impacted?
The Exercise may use sections of beach, but we don’t anticipate closing any roads or pathways.
Will any waterways or coastal water be closed or partially closed?
There will be marine pollution vessels on the water however it is not anticipated that any waterways or coastal water will be closed.
Will there be excessive noise as part of the exercise?
We don’t expect excessive noise associated with the exercise.
Why have you selected this location?
The location is ideal for testing and practice of inter-jurisdictional coordination of a major pollution exercise.
Impacts on residents
How will the Exercise impact residents?
The Exercise will have minimal impact on residents.
Have you notified residents and businesses?
Stakeholder and community engagement has taken place throughout the Gold Coast and Tweed region in the lead-up to the Exercise to ensure the community, local government and businesses have been fully informed.
Impacts on activities
How will the Exercise impact on-water activities such as commercial, recreational boating and fishing?
There will be some impact on boating and fishing, but it will not to be significant.
We’ll declare on-water exclusion zones for exercise purposes in a Notice to Mariners.
About the Exercise
What hours will the Exercise be running over these 2 days?
8am-5pm (AEDT), 29-30 October.
Roughly how many people will be involved in this exercise?
Approximately 250 personnel will be involved in the Exercise.
What sort of equipment and resources are being used?
The Exercise will be fully functional and conducted in ‘real time’. Field deployment will occur, with marine, wildlife, shoreline and hazardous and noxious substance response.
What can I expect to see during the Exercise?
You may see more marine traffic than usual in the area. Responders dressed in protective clothing will be working at various beach locations.
Please don’t approach exercise participants who will be working on the water at Currumbin Creek (between Thrower Drive and the Currumbin Creek Estuary Bridge) and on the Tweed River.
Exercise participants will also be on the beaches at Roughton Park, Qld, and various locations at Kingscliff and Fingal Head.
What happens if a real marine pollution emergency develops during the Exercise? Will there be enough resources to deal with it?
All agencies involved are resourced and equipped to deal with a real marine pollution emergency, should it occur.
Will the exercise go ahead regardless of weather conditions?
The exercise will go ahead unless weather conditions impact the safety of exercise participants.
How often do marine pollution response exercises like this occur?
We hold exercises like this annually as part of the *National Plan.
Background
Every ship navigating Australian waters poses a potential marine pollution risk. Although the likelihood of a significant marine pollution incident remains low, its impact could be significant, affecting the environment, society, economy, and infrastructure.
The Gold Coast and Tweed coastal areas, rich in diverse ecosystems and a booming tourism sector, are particularly vulnerable.
The National Plan, operational since 1973, outlines the national strategy for managing maritime crises. This plan fosters a collaborative approach between government and industry, crucial for efficient incident response.
The National Plan sets out annual exercises to practice major pollution responses across national, state and territory agencies, in different locations across Australia.
Significance of Exercise Dumaresq name
Named after the Dumaresq River, which marks part of the border between NSW and Qld, Exercise Dumaresq 2024 emphasises the cross-border nature of the simulated scenario, reinforcing the need for collaborative response strategies.
Learn more about our response to maritime environmental emergencies in the *National Plan.