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Annual Report 1998/99
Oil Spill Response Atlas
On 12 August 1998 the Federal Environment Minister Senator Hill announced the allocation of $1 million under the Natural Heritage Trust, Coasts and Clean Seas Program to AMSA to fast track the production of a computerised Oil Spill Response Atlas for Australia.
The major outcome of this project is to produce a complete and uniform National Plan Oil Spill Response Atlas (OSRA) for Australia in a computerised Geographic Information System (GIS). The project will be managed by AMSA, in conjunction with the States & NT.
The OSRA project’s prime aim is to systematically compile all relevant geographic and textual data into a standard GIS format for Australia’s at risk maritime and coastal environments that can be operated on-site in a spill response situation.
OSRA datasets will include:
- biological, environmental, wildlife and man-made resources Australia wide;
- geomorphological mapping and shoreline sensitivity to oil spills;
- human-use resource considerations; and
- logistical and infrastructure information to support a spill response.
OSRA will provide non-strategic environmental layers for distribution through the Australian Coastal Atlas (ACA) State/NT Internet computer nodes provided by Environmental Resource Information Network (ERIN). OSRA will be linked with AMSA’s maritime search and rescue and spill trajectory models as well as emergency contact lists and other decision support systems.
Oil Spill Trajectory Modelling
Work continued during 1998–99 on the development of a combined Search and Rescue/Oil Spill Trajectory Modelling system called the Net Water Movement Project. Under contract to AMSA, the Bureau of Meteorology and a consortium of oceanographic and computer modelling organisations have been developing an on-line facility to predict the movement of oil spills at sea and floating objects like vessels and life rafts for all Australian waters. This system will be integrated with OSRA and the Rescue Coordination Centre GIS systems and will be operational during the 4th quarter of 1999.
National Plan R&D Projects
During 1998–99 the National Plan bioremediation project was completed along with substantial field trials in the Gladstone region. Its main objective was to develop an information base, draft policies and guidelines on the use of bioremediation for the clean up of oil spills in remote and sensitive tropical foreshores such as mangroves and salt marshes.
A series of priority R&D projects was identified and scoped by a subcommittee of NPAC to be carried out during 1999–2000. This includes the "Investigation into the Establishment of National Guidelines for the Clean up of Oiled Foreshores (How Clean is Clean)". The aim of the investigation is to establish National guidelines for the determination when oiled foreshore clean up operations should be discontinued so as to achieve a net environmental benefit.
Also identified for funding is the project "Research into the Use and Application of Biodegradable and Nutrient Enriched Oil Spill Sorbents in Sensitive and Remote Oiled Foreshores". The main deliverable would be a detailed report of the research and its findings along with the development of guidelines with the National Plan Research, Development and Technology (NPRDT) Committee and AMSA on the use of biodegradable and nutrient enriched oil spill sorbents.
Environmental & Scientific Coordinators Workshop
The National Plan with assistance from Environment Australia funded the 8th Environmental and Scientific Coordinators (ESC) Workshop in Cairns in August 1998.
ESCs from all States and Territories attended the workshop as well as the oil and shipping industries.
Topics covered at the 8th Workshop included:- National Plan training review.
- State/NT/industry reports of incidents and exercises.
- Dispersant use and monitoring.
- Chemical spill planning.
- Post spill damage assessment.
- Remote sensing of oil spills.
- Oiled wildlife response arrangements.
- Oil Spill Response Atlas project.
- Research and development projects.
- Introduction of the Incident Control System.
A hypothetical exercise was conducted on the evening of the second day. It was particularly well received by all participants.
last updated:
18 June 2001