Listening station buoys
Where
When
Notification
Vessel operators are advised that as a component of the NSW Government Shark Management Strategy, the Department of Primary Industries are to provide twenty satellite linked VR4G shark listening stations, which consist of acoustic receivers on customised yellow buoys. The buoys are approximately 3.5 metres in length and are fitted with 3.5 metre long steel sub-frames. The buoys will be located in offshore waters near Tweed Heads, Byron Bay, Lennox Head, Ballina, Evans Head, Yamba, Coffs Harbour, South West Rocks, Crescent Head, Port Macquarie, Old Bar, Forster, Hawks Nest, Redhead, Sydney, Kiama, Sussex Inlet, Mollymook, Batemans Bay and Merimbula.
The buoys
Twenty VR4G listening station buoys have been deployed in approximately 10 to 12 metres depth of water at the following locations:
| Location | VR4G GPS Coordinate |
|---|---|
| Kingscliff Beach, Tweed Heads | 28.250267° S, 153.584300° E |
| Clarkes Beach, Byron Bay | 28.630817° S, 153.627483° E |
| Lennox Point, Lennox Head | 28.803917° S, 153.607667° E |
| Sharps Beach, Ballina | 28.837133° S, 153.610383° E |
| Lighthouse Beach, Ballina | 28.869317° S, 153.600533° E |
| Main Beach, Evans Head | 29.108850° S, 153.439783° E |
| Main Beach, Yamba | 29.433330° S, 153.369850° E |
| Park Beach, Coffs Harbour | 30.291217° S, 153.145283° E |
| Front Beach, South West Rocks | 30.879700° S, 153.045250° E |
| Crescent Head Beach, Crescent Head | 31.182950° S, 152.989983° E |
| Lighthouse Beach, Port Macquarie | 31.481417° S, 152.936550° E |
| Old Bar Beach, Old Bar | 31.975840 °S, 152.596370° E |
| Main Beach, Forster | 32.174417° S, 153.516300° E |
| Bennets Beach, Hawks Nest | 32.674961° S, 152.192254° E |
| Redhead Beach, Redhead | 33.019332° S, 151.723706° E |
| Bondi Beach, Sydney | 33.896499° S, 151.280312° E |
| Kiama Beach/Kendall’s Beach, Kiama | 34.678563° S, 150.861684° E |
| Cudmirrah Beach, Sussex Inlet | 35.194163° S, 150.585780° E |
| Mollymook Beach, Mollymook | 35.336768° S, 150.480350° E |
| Malua Bay Beach, Batemans Bay | 35.795033° S, 150.237040° E |
| Main Beach, Merimbula | 36.900331° S, 149.921495° E |
The buoys will display a yellow flashing light with a range of 2 nautical miles with a flash rate of 1 second on / 4 seconds off.
Note: The buoy located at Main Beach, Forster will be marked by a east cardinal navigation buoy displaying light colour and flash sequence to correspond.
East cardinal mark - An east cardinal mark has two cones pointing away from each other. It is black and the top and bottom and yellow in the middle. Pass on the eastern side of this mark. When lit an east mark exhibits a white light flashing in groups of three (3) quick or very quick flashes.
Navigation warning
Vessel operators are advised to exercise caution when navigating in the vicinity of these areas. This navigation warning remains in place until further notice. Vessel operators are advised that it is an offence to secure or anchor a vessel to the listening station buoys. Penalties apply.
Maps and charts affected
To see the area affected, refer to:
- Transport for NSW Boating Maps – 1 (PDF 921.61KB), 1A (PDF 1.24MB), 2 (PDF 926.59KB), 2B (PDF 4.46MB), 3A (PDF 1.95MB), 4 (PDF 902.09KB), 4B (PDF 897.1KB), 5A (PDF 1.28MB), 6 (PDF 835.53KB), 6B (PDF 2.16MB), 7 (PDF 948.91KB), 7B (PDF 1.31MB), 8 (PDF 980.08KB), 8A (PDF 3.17MB), 9 (PDF 1.29MB), 9D (PDF 3.09MB), 10 (PDF 889.04KB), 10B (PDF 980.38KB), 11 (PDF 1007.46KB), 11B (PDF 1.34MB), 12 (PDF 952.34KB), 12B (PDF 897.19KB), 14 (PDF 702.23KB), 14A (PDF 1.01MB)
- AUS charts – 220, 806, 807, 808, 809, 810, 811, 812, 813.
AUS charts are official paper nautical charts published by the Australian Hydrographic Office (AHO), Australia's national charting authority.
Contact Transport for NSW information line
For further information concerning this navigation advice, please contact the Transport for NSW information line on:
Phone: 13 12 36
Monday - Friday
8:30am - 5:30pm
Saturday - Sunday
8:30am - 4:30pm