This is a controlled exercise to practice responding to a marine pollution incident – it is not a real pollution event.
Although marine pollution incidents are uncommon in Australia, exercises like this one provide an important collaborative opportunity to practice responding to a maritime emergency.
What does this mean for you?
Throughout the exercise, you may see emergency responders and exercise participants wearing personal protective equipment, such as high-visibility clothing and coveralls. You may also see aviation activity, including drones between Barwon Heads and St Leonards.
Although this is an exercise, we are asking the community to please not approach exercise participants working on the beach with boats, machinery and equipment along the Queenscliff Foreshore Reserve.
We know this area is home to a diverse range of wildlife and we’ve taken all necessary steps to ensure this exercise does not impact the surrounding ecosystem.
There will be no impact on community safety, the environment, economic, or cultural assets.
What does Kunawarra mean?
The exercise name, Kunawarra, is the Wadawurrung word meaning black swan. Wadawurrung Traditional Owner representatives have been consulted regarding the naming of the exercise and will also participate.
Photo of Queenscliff Pier Beach
Background
Victoria is renowned for its coastline with iconic beaches, bays, ports and harbours. The coastline has great environmental and recreational values and is home to globally significant wildlife, including penguins, seals and whales. It also supports commercial activities like tourism, fisheries and shipping.
Maritime emergencies can have severe environmental impacts. The fallout from large oil or chemical spills, ships grounding or losing cargo can destroy marine ecosystems and cause years of disruption to fisheries, tourism and port operations.
That’s why it’s essential we’re proactive in training and holding exercises to practice responding to these emergencies. The Department of Transport and Planning hold exercises each year in collaboration with Victoria’s ports and emergency response agencies.
These exercises bring together government departments and agencies, port managers, emergency services and industry representatives, to collaborate, learn and improve maritime emergency responses.
Maritime emergency exercises ensure we can all play an active role in minimising the impact of emergencies on the Victorian community through effective preparation, coordination and response.
Further information
- For information about Victoria’s plan for maritime emergencies (non-search and rescue) visit Emergency Management Victoria plan’s web page(opens in a new window).
- For information about the national maritime emergency arrangements visit the Australian Maritime Safety Authority web page(opens in a new window).
- For inquiries about emergency management in Victoria, visit Emergency Management Victoria(opens in a new window).
- For inquiries about parks, native plants and native animals, visit Parks Victoria(opens in a new window).
- For inquiries about pollution and waste, contact Environment Protection Authority Victoria(opens in a new window).
- For inquiries about boating and boating infrastructure, visit Better Boating Victoria(opens in a new window).
- For inquiries about maritime safety, visit Maritime Safety Victoria(opens in a new window).
- For local government inquiries, visit the Borough of Queenscliffe(opens in a new window).
For any inquiries about Exercise Kunawarra, please email [email protected]
Please let us know your name , the best way to contact you and what your questions are. We look forward to helping you.
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