South West

I Graeme Meinema, delegate of the Chief Executive Officer, acting pursuant to section 66 of the Western Australian Marine Act 1982 hereby close the following area of water to all vessels on Saturday 28 March 2026 from 6:30AM to 4:00PM.

Approximately 400 participants will be competing in the approved 2026 "XTERRA Triathlon" event. Swimmers will enter from the Old Dunsborough boat ramp heading south to Point Daking and return.  The Old Dunsborough boat ramp will be closed for the duration of the event.

Area of closure; All the waters bound by a line commencing at 33° 36.060 ’S, 115° 6.362’E (approximately 45 metres northeast of Old Dunsborough boat ramp) thence 75 metres in an  easterly direction to approximately  33° 36.061 ’S, 115° 6.410’E, thence 423 metres in a southeasterly direction to approximately 33° 36.259 ’S, 115° 6.545’E, thence 180 metres in a westerly direction to approximately 33° 36.260 ’S, 115° 6.428’E, thence 380 metres in a north westerly direction to the point of commencement at 33° 36.060 ’S, 115° 6.362’E.

Conditions of Closure:
No vessel shall transit through, anchor or moor within the closed waters area;
This notice does not apply to approved vessels associated with the ‘XTERRA Triathlon’.

Mariners are advised that seaweed wrack removal works will be taking place in the Port of Bunbury main channel from Thursday 12 February 2026 for a 6-week period. The works will be conducted between 6:00 AM to 4:00 PM Monday to Saturday. 

Maintenance dredging of the main shipping channel and Outer and Inner Harbours at the Port of Bunbury will commence Saturday 2 March 2026. Operations will be conducted 24 hours, 7 days a week and are expected to continue for a 3-week period. 

Operations will be undertaken from the dredge vessel ‘Modi R’, plough / seabed levelling tug ‘Polaris’ and trawler ‘Amanda Verne K’.  

These vessels have equipment on the seabed and are restricted in their ability to manoeuvre. 

All vessels taking part in these works will display lights and shapes in accordance with the Prevention of Collisions in State Waters Regulations 1983 at all times. 

Operators will monitor Marine VHF Channel 12.

Mariners are advised to navigate with caution, minimise wake and wash, and give the vessels a wide berth while operations are underway.

Mariners are advised that there is an area of shallow water caused by sand accumulation on the east end approximately 75m along Berth 1 and 50m away from the berth edge. Approximately 800m SSW of McKenna Point.

Mariners are advised to navigate the area with caution.

Mariners are advised that 1 x Acoustic receiver will be deployed on Wednesday 27 March 2024 at the entrance of Leschenault Estuary, The Cut, Bunbury at approximately 33° 18.273'S, 115° 40.594'E.

The above acoustic receiver will be attached to a concrete block set with a steel rod approximately 50 cm from the seabed. (0.8m W x 0.8m L x 0.2m H - concrete, 0.3m H - steel).

Provisional recovery date: September 2026

No vessel is to moor to or interfere with the above receiver at any time.
 

A directional wave buoy (DWRB) has been deployed approximately 12 nautical miles west of Cape Naturaliste at the location below. The DWRB is yellow in colour, approximately 700mm in diameter, and equipped with a 2m whip antenna and flashing yellow light.

Flash rate: Fl (5) Y 20s

Mariners are requested to maintain a minimum distance of 100 meters from the DWRB, including any associated fishing equipment at all times so as to not interfere with or damage the DWRB.

Mariners are advised that three wave buoys are scheduled to be deployed in Geographe Bay as follows:

Locations:

-33.5915S, 115.1165E (Dunsborough)
-33.6001S, 115.2499E (Abbey)
-33.628S, 115.338E (Busselton Jetty)


Deployment date: 08/09/2022
Provisional recovery date: 08/09/2024

The above wave buoys are yellow in colour, approximately 420mm in diameter, and equipped with a flashing yellow light.

Flash rate: Fl Y 2.5s

No vessel is to moor to, or interfere with, the above wave buoys at any time.

Mariners are advised to navigate with caution when transiting the area and keep well clear of the above wave buoys at all times.

Mariners are advised that shallowing has occurred at the northern entrance to the Pelican Point Canals (immediately downstream of the mouth of the Collie River, Bunbury) reducing depths and restricting navigation in the vicinity.

The shallowest area of the canals, outside the edges of the canals, is reported to be on the southern side of the approach channel, about 20m upstream of the pedestrian bridge into the northern canal entrance

Mariners are advised that the Marlston Waterfront Jetty (adjacent to the Dome Café, Bonnefoi Boulevard Bunbury) has been closed until further notice due to storm damage.

A boom and yellow marker buoys have been deployed around the jetty.

Mariners are advised to remain east of the yellow marker buoys and exercise caution when towing skiers in the adjacent Koombana Bay water ski area.

Mariners are advised that mobile seagrass wrack is present throughout the Port Geographe Harbour entrance channel.

This material can vary significantly in thickness and position over short time frames, reducing depths and restricting navigation in the channel.

The affected area includes the full extent of the entrance channel, with the worst affected area being in the entrance channel directly adjacent to the lagoon rock-wall.

Mariners are advised to navigate with caution in the entrance channel, allowing for changing conditions when traversing the area. Vessels may be at risk of grounding when navigating through this area.