South West

Mariners are advised that maintenance dredging works at the entrance to the Port Geographe Marina will commence in August 2025 and will proceed until approximately February 2026.

Dredging will occur Monday to Saturday between the hours of 0700 and 1900. Sunday works will occur up until the 14th December between the hours of 0900 and 1700.

The works are being carried out by the cutter suction dredge “Cooper II”, equipped with floating pipelines & submerged pipelines to a length of 1.2km marked with yellow buoys which will display rhythmic flashing lights. 

The dredge has no self-propulsion and uses anchors and spuds to move. The dredge and connected pipeline will remain unmanned in the area of operation after normal operating hours for the duration of the works. 

The dredge will exhibit shapes and lights in accordance with the Prevention of collisions in State Waters Regulations 1983.

If mariners are unsure of where to safely pass the dredge vessel, they are requested to contact the operators who will be monitoring the following radio frequencies: 

VHF Channel 16 
Marine 27 MHz Channel 88

Mariners are advised that offshore disposal is being undertaken for the maintenance dredging period. The offshore spill area is demarcated by existing yellow surface buoys, approximately thirty (30 cm) in diameter, equipped with flashing yellow lights. 

Location of buoys:
 
2A    33° 37.4460728’ S    115° 23.4991987’ E
2B    33° 37.3676302’ S    115° 23.6668772’ E
2C    33° 37.3682340’ S    115° 23.8803013’ E
2D    33° 37.4629013’ S    115° 23.8785488’ E
2E    33° 37.4599606’ S    115° 23.6101875’ E
2F    33° 37.4885671’ S    115° 23.5630877’ E

Please see attached PDF for advice on safe navigation near dredge vessels.

Mariners are advised to use caution when transiting the area and keep well clear of the above operations.

Mariners are advised that the outer Starbard channel marker No. 65 at the Paris Road, Australind Public Boat Ramp is currently damaged and unlit.  Please navigate with caution.

Mariners are hereby advised that between the hours of 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM on Saturday 19th July 2025 and on Sunday 20th July 2025 approximately 15 racing power vessels are competing in the approved 2025 “Bridgetown Brass Monkey” event.  These vessels will be operating at high speeds within the following area:

Blackwood River:

On Saturday 19th July: From Sunnyside to Winnejup return then Sunnyside to Bridgetown bridge

On Sunday 20th July: From Sunnyside to Winnejup return then to Blackwood River access ramp

Mariners are advised to navigate with caution when transiting in these areas while the event is taking place.

Mariners are advised that repairs to the inlet rock training walls have commenced within the Koombana channel adjacent to the Storm Surge Barrier, Bunbury.

The works involve the progressive placement of rock material in designated areas of the existing structure. The works will commence on the outer western groyne and side of the channel, and progress to the south and then east. 

All construction works will be undertaken from 7:00am to 6:00pm Monday to Friday.

Operators will be monitoring UHF channel 14.

Mariners are advised to adhere to the existing channel, and maintain a safe distance of at least 10m from the new structures during construction. Land-based machinery will actively be placing rock and incomplete rock slopes may be unstable.  Machinery will halt material placement, when vessels transit the area. 

Mariners are advised to exercise caution while transiting the area.

Mariners are advised that a yellow DBCA sanctuary zone marker buoy is missing or adrift from its previous known location.

The last known location of the buoy was -33;33.0123 S, 115;5.1727 E.

Mariners are advised to be aware of the missing buoy and to contact DoT of DBCA if the missing buoy is sighted.

Mariners are advised that construction of breakwaters has significantly progressed within the Casuarina Boat Harbour, Bunbury.

The works involve the progressive placement of rock material in designated areas at the northern end of the harbour (immediately to the south of SPA Berths 1 and 2).

All construction works will be undertaken from 7:00am to 6:00pm Monday to Friday.

Operators will be monitoring UHF channel 13.

Whilst still in construction, new port and starboard channel marker buoys have been installed to designate the future navigational channel for the facility. Yellow buoys containing yellow flashing lights are in place alongside and ahead of the breakwater to designate work areas. These yellow buoys will be progressively moved as the breakwater is constructed to ensure safe navigation.

CHART CHARACTER
Fl Y 3s 2M

An exclusion zone of 30m is in effect around the new structures during construction. The structures have a wide base of submerged rock, land-based machinery will actively be placing rock and incomplete rock slopes may be unstable.

Mariners are advised to adhere to the new channel markers, always remain outside the exclusion zone, exercise caution while transiting the area and be aware of changing navigation routes into and out of Casuarina Boat Harbour.

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.