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No. 953.

93/60.

Navy Public Relations,

IMMEDIATE RELEASE.

1961 CHARTING PROGRAMME ANNOUNCED AT SURVEY CONFERENCE.

A conference called by the Department of the Navy in

! Canberra today discussed details of the\Australian survey . . ν' . .

·- f %

programme for 1961. · ~

The meeting, attended.by representatives of federal

and state governments and shipping interests, considered

priorities for future charting of the Australian coastline.

The programme for next year marks the end of the .

Royal Australian Navy's, first five-year charting programme and

today's conference also discussed a new five-year programme to

begin in 1962. Delegates expressed their views on the urgency

of particular survey tasks, and the Navy will now prepare a ■

national priority schedule taking into account the recommendations

by the conference, , . : . . . ,

The Minister for the Navy, Senator Gorton, released the

details of the 1961 survey programme as outlined'at today's

meeting. .; · · . ■ ' ' .

’ He said four ships would undertake survey work around

the coastline of four states and in New Guinea waters. The two

oceanographic research frigates would continue scientific . ·

investigations off the north,. west and east coasts of Australia,

Senator Gorton said that surveys off Queensland, New \ '

South Wales, Victoria and South Australia would be carried out

by H.M.A.S, WARREGO, H.M.A.S. BARCOO and H.M.A.S. BASS. Urgent

surveys, in New Guinea would be the responsibility of H.M.A.S. ·

PALUMA. ■ · . . .

The oceanographic research frigates, DIAMANTINA and .

GASCOYNE., in addition to reconnaissance work off the north and

west coasts, would undertake oceanographic surveys in the Pacific

and Indian Oceans and Coral and Timor Seas, .

\ . ; '

· ,../2

* Senator Gorton listed the following detailed programme

for next year;-

Queensland:

•, H.M.A.S. WARREGO to continue modern surveys of the" Great „ t '

Barrier Reef, and complete the survey from Danger Point "

to Cape Moreton; -

. H.M.A.S. BASS to work in the Barrier Reef area, Keppel

Bay and the approaches to Port Alma.

New South Wales: t .

. H.M.A.S. BARCOO to carry out coastal surveys during January

and February. . ‘

; ■ .

- < ■ I ■ ' ■

Victoria:

. H.M.A.S. BASS and H.MiA.S. BARCOO to undertake surveys at

the approaches to the new Portland harbour.

South Australia:

. H.M.A.S. WARREGO to carry out surveys across the entrance to

Spencer Gulf, between Cape Spencer and Gambier Island and

between South Neptune Island and Thistle Island;

. H.M.A.S. BASS to survey between Port Lincoln and the Sir

- Joseph Banks group in Spencer Gulf;

. H.M.A.S. BARCOO ,to undertake surveys in the Investigator

Strait and Spencer Gulf areas. ■ v

New Guinea: ~

.. H.M.A.S, PALUMA to work.in the area throughout the year.

Canberra,· 26th October, I960.