{"id":"F2005B01255","name":"Licence Area Plan - Geraldton (Radio) - September 1996","slug":"licence-area-plan-geraldton-radio-september-1996","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":32507,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2005B01255-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Licence Area Plan - Geraldton (Radio) - September 1996","content":"![](image.001.png)\n\nLICENCE AREA PLAN\n\nGERALDTON\n\n(RADIO)\n\nSEPTEMBER 1996\n\nLICENCE AREA PLAN \\- GERALDTON\n\nDETERMINATION\n\nThe Australian Broadcasting Authority hereby makes this plan for broadcasting services in the Geraldton area of Western Australia, under subsection 26(1) of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992.\n\nFive national radio broadcasting, two commercial radio broadcasting services and one open narrowcasting radio broadcasting service are to be available in the Geraldton area described at Attachment 1.1 to this Determination with the use of the broadcasting services bands. The characteristics, including technical specifications, of the services that are to be available in the area described at Attachment 1.1 are set out in the Schedule One and Attachments 1.2 - 1.9 to this Determination.\n\nTwo community radio broadcasting services are to be available in the Geraldton area described at Attachment 2.1 to this Determination with the use of the broadcasting services bands. The characteristics, including technical specifications, of the services that are to be available in the area described at Attachment 2.1 is set out in Schedule Two and Attachment 2.2 - 2.3 to this Determination.\n\nOne community radio broadcasting service is to be available in the Northampton area described at Attachment 3.1 to this Determination with the use of the broadcasting services bands. The characteristics, including technical specifications, of the service that is to be available in the area described at Attachment 3.1 is set out in Schedule Three and Attachment 3.2 to this Determination.\n\nDate: 11 September 1996\n\nSCHEDULES\n\nEach of the Schedules sets out:\n\n-   the category of each of the services that are to be available in that area (column one),\n-   the service licence number which has been allocated to the service, if appropriate (column two); N/A = Not Applicable, as the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 only requires service licences for Commercial and Community services.\n-   the number of transmitters required to transmit the service,\n-   the transmitter specification number which has been allocated to each transmitter (column three),\n-   the identifying number of the attachment where the technical specifications for each transmitter are described (column four). (Each set of technical specifications referred to in the Schedules is an attachment to this determination).\n-   the general area served by each transmitter (column five).\n\nSCHEDULE ONE\n\nLicence Area Plan - Geraldton - (Radio) - September 1996\n\n| Category ofService | Service Licence No: | Transmitter Specification No: | TechnicalSpecifications | General Area Served by Transmitter |\n| ------------------ | ------------------- | ----------------------------- | ----------------------- | ---------------------------------- |\n| National           | N/A                 | TS000590                      | See attachment 1.2      | Geraldton                          |\n| National           | N/A                 | TS005294                      | See attachment 1.3      | Geraldton                          |\n| National           | N/A                 | TS005297                      | See attachment 1.4      | Geraldton                          |\n| National           | N/A                 | TS005298                      | See attachment 1.5      | Geraldton                          |\n| National           | N/A                 | TS000041                      | See attachment 1.6      | Northampton                        |\n| Commercial         | SL010370            | TS005656                      | See attachment 1.7      | Geraldton                          |\n| Commercial         | SL010371            | TS005688                      | See attachment 1.8      | Geraldton                          |\n| Open Narrowcasting | N/A                 | TS005304                      | See attachment 1.9      | Geraldton                          |\n\nSCHEDULE TWO\n\nLicence Area Plan - Geraldton - (Radio) - September 1996\n\n| Category ofService | Service Licence No: | Transmitter Specification No: | TechnicalSpecifications | General Area Served by Transmitter |\n| ------------------ | ------------------- | ----------------------------- | ----------------------- | ---------------------------------- |\n| Community          | SL010348            | TS005299                      | See attachment 2.2      | Geraldton                          |\n| Community          | SL010347            | TS000963                      | See attachment 2.3      | Geraldton                          |\n\nSCHEDULE THREE\n\nLicence Area Plan - Geraldton - (Radio) - September 1996\n\n| Category ofService | Service Licence No: | Transmitter Specification No: | TechnicalSpecifications | General Area Served by Transmitter |\n| ------------------ | ------------------- | ----------------------------- | ----------------------- | ---------------------------------- |\n| Community          | SL010346            | TS005300                      | See attachment 3.2      | Northampton                        |\n\nATTACHMENT 1.1\n\nLICENCE AREA FOR SERVICE LICENCE NUMBERS: SL010370 and SL010371  \nCOMMERCIAL RADIO GERALDTON WA\n\nThe licence area, in terms of areas defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics at the Census of 6 August 1991, is:\n\nArea Description Persons  \nChapman Valley (S) 788  \nGeraldton (C) 20601  \nGreenough (S) 7649  \nWA CD 022102 669  \nWA CD 022103 377  \nWA CD 022104 125  \nWA CD 022105 502  \nWA CD 021103 311  \nWA CD 021104 782  \nWA CD 021105 246  \nWA CD 021106 82  \nWA CD 021110 170  \n  \nTotal Persons 32302\n\nNote:\n\nStandard terminology used by the Australian Bureau of Statistics:\n\n(CD) = Collection District  \n(S) \\= Shire  \n(C) \\= City\n\n  \nAttachment 1.2\n\nLICENCE AREA PLAN :\n\nCategory : National\n\nGeneral Area Served : Geraldton (WA)\n\nService Licence Number : Not applicable\n\nTECHNICAL SPECIFICATION - AM Radio\n\nSpecification Number : TS10000590\n\nTransmitter Site :-\n\nNominal location : Fig Tree Crossing 15km NE of GERALDTON\n\nAustralian Map Grid : Zone Easting Northing  \nReference 50 275700 6827294\n\nSite Tolerance : Refer to Technical Planning Guidelines\n\nEmission :-\n\nFrequency Band & Mode MF-AM\n\nCarrier Frequency : 828 kHz\n\nOutput Radiation Pattern :-\n\n| Bearing or Sector (Clockwise direction) | Elevation | Maximum CMF |\n| --------------------------------------- | --------- | ----------- |\n| At all angles of azimuth                | 0         | 960 V       |\n\nNotes:-\n\n1\\. The CMF at all elevations is not to exceed the specified CMF at 0 degrees elevation for all angles of azimuth.\n\n  \nAttachment 1.3\n\nLICENCE AREA PLAN :\n\nCategory : National\n\nGeneral Area Served : Geraldton (WA)\n\nService Licence Number : Not applicable\n\nTECHNICAL SPECIFICATION - FM Radio\n\nSpecification Number : TS10005294\n\nTransmitter Site :-\n\nNominal location : Moresby Ranges GERALDTON\n\nAustralian Map Grid : Zone Easting Northing  \nReference 50 272800 6825200\n\nSite Tolerance : Refer to Technical Planning Guidelines\n\nEmission :-\n\nFrequency Band & Mode VHF-FM\n\nCarrier Frequency : 94.9 MHz\n\nPolarisation Mixed\n\nMaximum antenna height 90 m\n\nOutput Radiation Pattern :-\n\n| Bearing or Sector (Clockwise direction) | Maximum ERP |\n| --------------------------------------- | ----------- |\n| At all angles of azimuth                | 10 kW       |\n\n  \nAttachment 1.4\n\nLICENCE AREA PLAN :\n\nCategory : National\n\nGeneral Area Served : Geraldton (WA)\n\nService Licence Number : Not applicable\n\nTECHNICAL SPECIFICATION - FM Radio\n\nSpecification Number : TS10005297\n\nTransmitter Site :-\n\nNominal location : Moresby Ranges GERALDTON\n\nAustralian Map Grid : Zone Easting Northing  \nReference 50 272800 6825200\n\nSite Tolerance : Refer to Technical Planning Guidelines\n\nEmission :-\n\nFrequency Band & Mode VHF-FM\n\nCarrier Frequency : 98.9 MHz\n\nPolarisation Mixed\n\nMaximum antenna height 90 m\n\nOutput Radiation Pattern :-\n\n| Bearing or Sector (Clockwise direction) | Maximum ERP |\n| --------------------------------------- | ----------- |\n| At all angles of azimuth                | 10 kW       |\n\n  \nAttachment 1.5\n\nLICENCE AREA PLAN :\n\nCategory : National\n\nGeneral Area Served : Geraldton (WA)\n\nService Licence Number : Not applicable\n\nTECHNICAL SPECIFICATION - FM Radio\n\nSpecification Number : TS10005298\n\nTransmitter Site :-\n\nNominal location : Moresby Ranges GERALDTON\n\nAustralian Map Grid : Zone Easting Northing  \nReference 50 272800 6825200\n\nSite Tolerance : Refer to Technical Planning Guidelines\n\nEmission :-\n\nFrequency Band & Mode VHF-FM\n\nCarrier Frequency : 99.7 MHz\n\nPolarisation Mixed\n\nMaximum antenna height 90 m\n\nOutput Radiation Pattern :-\n\n| Bearing or Sector (Clockwise direction) | Maximum ERP |\n| --------------------------------------- | ----------- |\n| At all angles of azimuth                | 10 kW       |\n\n  \nAttachment 1.6\n\nLICENCE AREA PLAN :\n\nCategory : National\n\nGeneral Area Served : Northampton (WA)\n\nService Licence Number : Not applicable\n\nTECHNICAL SPECIFICATION - FM Radio\n\nSpecification Number : TS10000041\n\nTransmitter Site :-\n\nNominal location : Trig Pt 18 NORTHAMPTON\n\nAustralian Map Grid : Zone Easting Northing  \nReference 50 268900 6859300\n\nSite Tolerance : Refer to Technical Planning Guidelines\n\nEmission :-\n\nFrequency Band & Mode VHF-FM\n\nCarrier Frequency : 107.7 MHz\n\nPolarisation Mixed\n\nMaximum antenna height 23 m\n\nOutput Radiation Pattern :-\n\n| Bearing or Sector (Clockwise direction) | Maximum ERP |\n| --------------------------------------- | ----------- |\n| At all angles of azimuth                | 100 W       |\n\n  \nAttachment 1.7\n\nLICENCE AREA PLAN :\n\nCategory : Commercial\n\nGeneral Area Served : Geraldton (WA)\n\nService Licence Number : SL10370\n\nTECHNICAL SPECIFICATION - FM Radio\n\nSpecification Number : TS10005656\n\nTransmitter Site :-\n\nNominal location : Moresby Range GERALDTON\n\nAustralian Map Grid : Zone Easting Northing  \nReference 50 272800 6825200\n\nSite Tolerance : Refer to Technical Planning Guidelines\n\nEmission :-\n\nFrequency Band & Mode VHF-FM\n\nCarrier Frequency : 96.5 MHz\n\nPolarisation Mixed\n\nMaximum antenna height 90 m\n\nOutput Radiation Pattern :-\n\n| Bearing or Sector (Clockwise direction) | Maximum ERP |\n| --------------------------------------- | ----------- |\n| 320°T - 60°T                            | 30 kW       |\n| 60°T - 90°T falling to                  | 10 kW       |\n| 90°T - 260°T                            | 10 kW       |\n| 260°T - 320°T rising to                 | 30 kW       |\n\n  \nAttachment 1.8\n\nLICENCE AREA PLAN :\n\nCategory : Commercial\n\nGeneral Area Served : Geraldton (WA)\n\nService Licence Number : SL10371\n\nTECHNICAL SPECIFICATION - FM Radio\n\nSpecification Number : TS10005688\n\nTransmitter Site :-\n\nNominal location : Moresby Range GERALDTON\n\nAustralian Map Grid : Zone Easting Northing  \nReference 50 272800 6825200\n\nSite Tolerance : Refer to Technical Planning Guidelines\n\nEmission :-\n\nFrequency Band & Mode VHF-FM\n\nCarrier Frequency : 98.1 MHz\n\nPolarisation Mixed\n\nMaximum antenna height 90 m\n\nOutput Radiation Pattern :-\n\n| Bearing or Sector (Clockwise direction) | Maximum ERP |\n| --------------------------------------- | ----------- |\n| 320°T - 60°T                            | 30 kW       |\n| 60°T - 90°T falling to                  | 10 kW       |\n| 90°T - 260°T                            | 10 kW       |\n| 260°T - 320°T rising to                 | 30 kW       |\n\n  \nAttachment 1.9\n\nLICENCE AREA PLAN :\n\nCategory : Open Narrowcasting\n\nGeneral Area Served : Geraldton (WA)\n\nService Licence Number : Not applicable\n\nTECHNICAL SPECIFICATION - AM Radio\n\nSpecification Number : TS10005304\n\nTransmitter Site :-\n\nNominal location : Bluff Point 6km NNE of GERALDTON\n\nAustralian Map Grid : Zone Easting Northing  \nReference 50 267800 6819300\n\nSite Tolerance : Refer to Technical Planning Guidelines\n\nEmission :-\n\nFrequency Band & Mode MF-AM\n\nCarrier Frequency : 1008 kHz\n\nOutput Radiation Pattern :-\n\n| Bearing or Sector (Clockwise direction) | Elevation | Maximum CMF |\n| --------------------------------------- | --------- | ----------- |\n| At all angles of azimuth                | 0°T       | 424 V       |\n\nNotes:-\n\n1\\. The CMF at all elevations is not to exceed the specified CMF at 0 degrees elevation for all angles of azimuth.\n\n  \n\nATTACHMENT 2.1\n\nLICENCE AREA FOR SERVICE LICENCE NUMBERS: SL010348 and SL010347  \nCOMMUNITY RADIO GERALDTON WA\n\nThe licence area, in terms of areas defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics at the Census of 6 August 1991, is:\n\nArea Description Persons  \nGeraldton (C) 20601  \nGreenough (S) 7649  \n  \nTotal Persons 28250\n\nNote:\n\nStandard terminology used by the Australian Bureau of Statistics:\n\n(S) \\= Shire  \n(C) \\= City\n\n  \nAttachment 2.2\n\nLICENCE AREA PLAN :\n\nCategory : Community\n\nGeneral Area Served : Geraldton (WA)\n\nService Licence Number : SL10348\n\nTECHNICAL SPECIFICATION - FM Radio\n\nSpecification Number : TS10005299\n\nTransmitter Site :-\n\nNominal location : Moresby Ranges GERALDTON\n\nAustralian Map Grid : Zone Easting Northing  \nReference 50 272800 6825200\n\nSite Tolerance : Refer to Technical Planning Guidelines\n\nEmission :-\n\nFrequency Band & Mode VHF-FM\n\nCarrier Frequency : 97.3 MHz\n\nPolarisation Mixed\n\nMaximum antenna height 90 m\n\nOutput Radiation Pattern :-\n\n| Bearing or Sector (Clockwise direction) | Maximum ERP |\n| --------------------------------------- | ----------- |\n| 70°T - 270°T                            | 1 kW        |\n| 270°T - 70°T                            | 100 W       |\n\n  \nAttachment 2.3\n\nLICENCE AREA PLAN :\n\nCategory : Community\n\nGeneral Area Served : Geraldton (WA)\n\nService Licence Number : SL10347\n\nTECHNICAL SPECIFICATION - FM Radio\n\nSpecification Number : TS10000963\n\nTransmitter Site :-\n\nNominal location : Moresby Ranges GERALDTON\n\nAustralian Map Grid : Zone Easting Northing  \nReference 50 272800 6825200\n\nSite Tolerance : Refer to Technical Planning Guidelines\n\nEmission :-\n\nFrequency Band & Mode VHF-FM\n\nCarrier Frequency : 100.5 MHz\n\nPolarisation Mixed\n\nMaximum antenna height 90 m\n\nOutput Radiation Pattern :-\n\n| Bearing or Sector (Clockwise direction) | Maximum ERP |\n| --------------------------------------- | ----------- |\n| 70°T - 270°T                            | 1 kW        |\n| 270°T - 360°T                           | 100 W       |\n\n  \nATTACHMENT 3.1\n\nLICENCE AREA FOR SERVICE LICENCE NUMBERS: SL010346  \nCOMMUNITY RADIO NORTHAMPTON WA\n\nThe licence area, in terms of areas defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics at the Census of 6 August 1991, is:\n\nArea Description Persons  \nWA CD 021103 311  \nWA CD 021104 782  \nWA CD 021105 246  \n  \nTotal Persons 1339\n\nNote:\n\nStandard terminology used by the Australian Bureau of Statistics:\n\n(CD) \\= Collection District  \n\nAttachment 3.2\n\nLICENCE AREA PLAN :\n\nCategory : Community\n\nGeneral Area Served : Northampton (WA)\n\nService Licence Number : SL10346\n\nTECHNICAL SPECIFICATION - FM Radio\n\nSpecification Number : TS10005300\n\nTransmitter Site :-\n\nNominal location : Trig Pt 18 NORTHAMPTON\n\nAustralian Map Grid : Zone Easting Northing  \nReference 50 268900 6859300\n\nSite Tolerance : Refer to Technical Planning Guidelines\n\nEmission :-\n\nFrequency Band & Mode VHF-FM\n\nCarrier Frequency : 106.1 MHz\n\nPolarisation Mixed\n\nMaximum antenna height 23 m\n\nOutput Radiation Pattern :-\n\n| Bearing or Sector (Clockwise direction) | Maximum ERP |\n| --------------------------------------- | ----------- |\n| At all angles of azimuth                | 100 W       |","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The document is a self-contained licence area plan dated 11 September 1996 that specifies available services, licence areas and transmitter technical parameters. It does not indicate any amendment or change from an earlier plan or original intent within the text provided."},"complexity_factors":["Legal basis: made under subsection 26(1) of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (Determination header)","Multiple service categories (national, commercial, community, open narrowcasting) with different licensing rules (Schedules One–Three)","Detailed technical specifications for each transmitter (Attachments 1.2–1.9, 2.2–2.3, 3.2) including frequency, ERP/CMF, antenna height, polarisation and sectorised radiation patterns","Geographic licence areas defined by 1991 ABS units and population figures (Attachments 1.1, 2.1, 3.1) requiring mapping between administrative boundaries and technical coverage","Cross-references and mapping: schedules refer to transmitter specification numbers which point to separate attachments (administrative linking increases implementation work)","Operational constraints and tolerances that reference external Technical Planning Guidelines (site tolerance entries)","Mixture of service‑licence-present and N/A entries (national/open narrowcasting vs commercial/community) affecting who must hold licences and who simply follows technical specs","Enforcement and compliance burden borne by broadcasters to meet specific sectorised ERP limits and CMF restrictions (numerical limits in attachments)"],"plain_english_summary":"This Determination designates which radio services (national, commercial, community and open narrowcasting) may operate in Geraldton and Northampton and fixes technical parameters for each transmitter—frequencies, powers, antenna patterns, sites and licence-area boundaries based on 1991 ABS districts. It affects broadcasters (licence-holders and spectrum users), listeners in the named areas, and the regulator that enforces limits. Broadcasters must operate within the specified technical limits and hold applicable service licences, bearing compliance and operational costs enforced by the ABA."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a discrete, single-purpose instrument made under the Broadcasting Services Act 1992. It serves its original purpose of planning radio spectrum allocation for the Geraldton/Northampton area without expanding beyond that technical planning function."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple cross-referenced schedules and attachments (3 schedules, 9 attachments)","Technical specifications requiring engineering knowledge (frequency allocations, radiation patterns, ERP limits)","Geographic definitions rely on external ABS 1991 Census boundaries","Multiple service categories with different regulatory requirements (National, Commercial, Community, Open Narrowcasting)","Numerous defined specification numbers (TS10000XXX, SLXXXXXX) that reference external technical planning guidelines","Tabular data with conditional directional broadcasting patterns (some transmitters have different power levels in different compass directions)"],"plain_english_summary":"This document is a **Licence Area Plan** made by the Australian Broadcasting Authority (now the Australian Communications and Media Authority) in September 1996. It sets out the rules for radio broadcasting in Geraldton and Northampton, Western Australia.\n\n**What it does:**\n- **Allocates radio frequencies** to different types of broadcasters in specific geographic areas\n- **Specifies technical details** for each radio transmitter, including location, frequency, power output, and coverage patterns\n- **Defines licence areas** using Australian Bureau of Statistics boundaries from the 1991 Census\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- **National broadcasters** (ABC): 5 services allocated (4 in Geraldton, 1 in Northampton)\n- **Commercial broadcasters**: 2 services in Geraldton\n- **Community broadcasters**: 2 services in Geraldton, 1 in Northampton\n- **Open narrowcasting**: 1 service in Geraldton (specialised programming like racing or religious content)\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThis plan prevents radio stations from interfering with each other by ensuring each service uses a specific frequency with defined technical limits. It determines what radio services residents can receive and where broadcasters can operate. The document creates legal rights for broadcasters to use particular parts of the radio spectrum (the 'broadcasting services bands') in these regional Western Australian communities.\n\n**Key concepts explained:**\n- **Licence Area Plan**: A legal document that maps out who can broadcast where and on what frequency\n- **Service Licence**: A legal permission needed to operate commercial or community radio (national and narrowcasting services don't need these)\n- **ERP (Effective Radiated Power)**: How strongly a transmitter broadcasts in different directions\n- **CMF (Carrier Modulation Factor)**: A technical measurement for AM radio signal strength"},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/licence-area-plan-geraldton-radio-september-1996","history":"/api/acts/licence-area-plan-geraldton-radio-september-1996/history","analysis":"/api/acts/licence-area-plan-geraldton-radio-september-1996/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/licence-area-plan-geraldton-radio-september-1996/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/licence-area-plan-geraldton-radio-september-1996/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/licence-area-plan-geraldton-radio-september-1996/documents"}}