Submarine Cable (Northern Sydney Protection Zone) Declaration 2007
Telecommunications Act 1997
The AUSTRALIAN COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA AUTHORITY makes this Declaration under subclause 4 (1) of Schedule 3A to the Telecommunications Act 1997.
Dated 6th July 2007
CHRIS CHAPMAN
Chairman
LYN MADDOCK
Deputy Chair
Australian Communications and Media Authority
Contents
1 Name of Declaration
2 Commencement
3 Definitions
4 Definition of line
5 Application of Declaration
6 Area of the Northern Sydney Protection Zone
7 Nominal location of submarine cables in the Northern Sydney Protection Zone
8 Prohibited activities in the Northern Sydney Protection Zone
9 Restricted activities in the Northern Sydney Protection Zone
1 Name of Declaration
This Declaration is the Submarine Cable (Northern Sydney Protection Zone) Declaration 2007.
2 Commencement
This Declaration commences on 1 October 2007.
3 Definitions
In this Declaration:
abalone spatula means a device that:
(a) has a blade that is broad, flat and flexible; and
(b) is used to pry abalone from the seabed.
ACMA means the Australian Communications and Media Authority.
Act means the Telecommunications Act 1997.
anchor chain assembly means a length of chain that connects an anchor with an anchor line.
anchor line means a rope or chain used to suspend an anchor from a ship.
Australia has the same meaning as in clause 2 of Schedule 3A to the Act.
Australian waters has the meaning given by clause 2 of Schedule 3A to the Act.
bar means the unit of measurement for ultrasonic pressure waves.
beach safety meshing net has the meaning given by clause 42 of the Fisheries Management (General) Regulation 2002 (NSW) as in force when this instrument commenced.
branching unit means any part of a submarine cable that allows the cable to branch.
breaking strain, in relation to an object, means the force required for an object to break.
cable carrier, in relation to a submarine cable that is within the Northern Sydney Protection Zone, means:
(a) if a submarine cable is a network unit — the carrier that owns or jointly owns the cable, or is named in a nominated carrier declaration that is in force in relation to the cable; or
(b) if a submarine cable is not a network unit and was installed after the commencement of Schedule 3A of the Act — a carrier that held a protection zone installation permit under Schedule 3A to install the cable in the protection zone; or
(c) in any other case — the carrier that owns, or jointly owns, a network unit that is immediately connected to the cable, or is named in a nominated carrier declaration in force in relation to that network unit.
circle type hook means a circular fishing hook where the barb of the hook faces its shaft.
civil engineering work includes:
(a) planning, design, construction, maintenance, management and demolition of a fixed structure or public works; and
(b) depositing sand in a place.
conduct has the meaning given by clause 2 of Schedule 3A to the Act.
dropline means a vertically‑set weighted fishing line with 6 or more hooks that is:
(a) used or intended to be used in water; and
(b) kept vertical by a float.
electro‑optic devices means those electronic parts of a submarine cable that manage or re‑transmit communications along a line.
equaliser means submerged electro‑optic devices that are installed at intervals along a submarine cable to boost signal transmission.
explosive device does not include:
(a) firearms of less than 20 millimetre calibre; or
(b) firearms used or intended to be used for life saving or distress signalling purposes.
grapnel means a grabbing device used, or intended to be used, to grab an item on the seabed.
grid lines means the local pattern used to map the seabed with seismic survey equipment.
installation has the same meaning as in clause 2 of Schedule 3A to the Act.
J‑hook means a fishing hook where the barb of the hook is parallel to the shaft.
longline means a fishing line with 6 or more hooks lying horizontally along or near the seabed.
low water mark means the height of the lowest ebb tide.
mainline means the principal fishing line used or intended to be used as, or as part of, a dropline, longline, setline or trotline.
midwater trawl means trawl gear that is designed and rigged to work in mid‑water, including surface water.
network unit has the meaning given by Division 2 of Part 2 of the Act.
New South Wales means the State of New South Wales.
nominal location means the nominal location of the Australian Japan Cable or Southern Cross Cable specified in section 7 of this Declaration.
Northern Sydney Protection Zone means the protection zone that is declared by this Declaration.
ocean disposal point means a point where specified material may be disposed and includes a point designated or declared by the Commonwealth or a State or Territory government to be a point where the disposal or abandonment of material is permitted (whether or not particular material is specified).
pressure waves means controlled pulses of sound generated by seismic survey equipment.
protection zone installation permit has the meaning given by clause 2 of Schedule 3A to the Act.
repeater means a device used, or intended to be used, to enhance the signal along a submarine cable or part of a submarine cable.
scuttle, in relation to a ship, means to deliberately sink a ship.
seismic survey means any method of exploration for resources that:
(a) involves the transmission of pressure waves into the seabed; and
(b) requires the measurement of vibrations that occur because of those pressure waves.
setline means a fishing line that has multiple snoods attached to a horizontal demersal‑set mainline.
ship has the meaning given by clause 2 of Schedule 3A to the Act.
shot means the weight attached to the end of a shotline.
shotline means a weighted line that may be used to moor a ship.
sliding ring anchor means an anchor that has an anchor line fitted to a ring that is designed to slide freely along the shank of the anchor.
snood means any hook and fishing line that is connected, whether directly or indirectly and whether permanently or temporarily, to a mainline.
spoil ground means an area where specified material may be disposed and includes an area designated or declared by the Commonwealth or a State or Territory government to be an area where the disposal or abandonment of specific material is permitted.
submarine cable has the meaning given by clause 2 of Schedule 3A to the Act.
submerged plant items, in relation to a submarine cable that is in the Northern Sydney Protection Zone, means electronic components of a submarine cable system that serve to manage, or intended to manage, the signal at intervals along the cable’s route.
Example
Repeaters, equalisers and branching units are all submerged plant items.
trace means any fishing line used to attach a hook to a mainline.
trap rope means any rope used to suspend a pot or trap from a ship.
trip anchor means an anchor that is:
(a) fitted with lugs at both ends of the shank; and
(b) an anchor line or rope fitted securely to the front lug (located near the anchor prongs) and then tethered to the rear lug via a weak or ‘sacrificial’ link.
trip release mechanism, in relation to an anchor, means a device or system that, when fitted to an anchor, allows the anchor to be removed backwards from the seabed.
trotline means 2 or more droplines that are connected by horizontal mid‑water bars.
Note Other terms in this Declaration have the meaning given by the Act.
4 Definition of line
In this Declaration, line has its ordinary meaning when used in relation to:
(a) fishing; or
(b) fishing operations; or
(c) a shot line; or
(d) anchors.
Note Line is defined in section 7 of the Act.
5 Application of Declaration
This Declaration applies to the extent that it is consistent with Australia’s jurisdiction under international law.
6 Area of the Northern Sydney Protection Zone
For clause 9 of Schedule 3A to the Act the Northern Sydney Protection Zone is the area contained within and bounded by a notional line as follows:
(a) the line commences at the mean low water mark of the coastline of New South Wales closest to 33 41 23.4 S 151 18 30.6 E(point number 1), and then running generally easterly along the geodesic line as described in table 1:
Table 1
Point Number
Latitude
Longitude
2
33 41 39.9 S
151 19 36.6 E
3
33 41 15.0 S
151 20 36.6 E
4
33 41 13.4 S
151 21 58.9 E
5
33 43 00.1 S
151 26 32.2 E
6
33 43 07.5 S
151 32 06.1 E
7
33 43 45.2 S
152 01 09.0 E
8
33 44 04.0 S
152 04 06.7 E
9
33 44 23.0 S
152 07 54.5 E
(b) the line then runs generally south westerly along the geodesic line to the point of latitude 33 50 49.2 S 152 05 42.7 E (point number 10), and running generally westerly along geodesic lines as described in table 2:
Table 2
Point Number
Latitude
Longitude
11
33 50 57.6 S
152 04 06.1 E
12
33 50 29.6 S
152 01 24.2 E
13
33 50 22.0 S
151 57 46.4 E
14
33 49 21.2 S
151 55 40.7 E
15
33 49 07.3 S
151 55 09.8 E
16
33 49 04.7 S
151 55 00.5 E
17
33 47 56.4 S
151 44 44.0 E
18
33 47 10.4 S
151 41 22.6 E
19
33 46 35.8 S
151 33 46.6 E
20
33 45 10.0 S
151 25 50.4 E
21
33 44 27.5 S
151 24 46.5 E
22
33 44 05.3 S
151 23 15.7 E
23
33 43 37.2 S
151 21 03.2 E
24
33 44 00.0 S
151 20 43.2 E
(c) the line then runs west along the parallel of 33 44 00.0 S to a point on the mean low water mark of the coastline of New South Wales close to 151 18 10.6 E (point number 25);
(d) the line then runs generally northerly along the mean low water mark to point number 1.
Note All coordinates in this Declaration are provided in the World Geodetic System 1984 which is identical to the Australian Geodetic Datum 1994 as described in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette GN35 of 6 September 1995.
7 Nominal location of submarine cables in the Northern Sydney Protection Zone
(1) For clause 8 of Schedule 3A to the Act, the nominal location for the Australian Japan Cable in the Northern Sydney Protection Zone is a course that joins the coordinates in table 3 by the shortest route.
Table 3 Australian Japan Cable
Point Number
Latitude
Longitude
1
33 43 21 S
151° 18 25 E
2
33° 43 16 S
151° 18 51 E
3
33° 43 31 S
151° 19 32 E
4
33° 42 34 S
151° 20 36 E
5
33° 42 32 S
151° 20 46 E
6
33° 43 36 S
151° 25 24 E
7
33° 44 18 S
151° 26 27 E
8
33° 45 37 S
151° 34 01 E
9
33° 46 11 S
151° 41 37 E
10
33° 46 57 S
151° 44 53 E
11
33° 48 06 S
151° 55 16 E
12
33° 49 26 S
151° 58 12 E
13
33° 49 30 S
152° 01 35 E
14
33° 49 58 S
152° 04 00 E
15
33° 49 49 S
152° 05 35 E
16
33 48 02 S
152 38 26 E
17
33 49 28 S
153 01 43 E
18
30 20 02 S
155 16 09 E
19
29 10 49 S
156 20 06 E
20
25 30 18 S
156 39 25 E
21
23 58 44 S
158 03 19 E
(2) For clause 8 of Schedule 3A to the Act, the nominal location for the Southern Cross Cable in the Northern Sydney Protection Zone is a course that joins the coordinates in table 4 by the shortest route.
Table 4 Southern Cross Cable
Point Number
Latitude
Longitude
1
33° 42 29 S
151° 18 55 E
2
33° 42 51 S
151° 19 33 E
3
33° 42 12 S
151° 21 00 E
4
33° 42 12 S
151° 21 45 E
5
33° 43 55 S
151° 26 21 E
6
33° 44 02 S
151° 28 01 E
7
33° 44 00 S
151° 31 00 E
8
33° 44 08 S
151° 32 00 E
9
33° 44 18 S
151° 40 46 E
10
33° 44 45 S
151° 01 00 E
11
33° 45 04 S
152° 04 00 E
12
33° 45 12 S
152° 06 41 E
13
33° 45 22 S
152° 07 40 E
14
33 34 44 S
153 26 41 E
15
31 09 59 S
158 50 00 E
16
29 21 31 S
162 49 38 E
17
28 49 28 S
164 08 40 E
18
26 13 42 S
170 00 23 E
8 Prohibited activities in the Northern Sydney Protection Zone
(1) Subject to subsection (2), an activity mentioned in table 5 is prohibited in the Northern Sydney Protection Zone.
Table 5 Prohibited activities in the Northern Sydney Protection Zone
Item
Prohibited activity
1
an activity mentioned in subparagraph 10 (4) (a) (i), (iv) or (viii) of Schedule 3A to the Act
2
the use of any of the following:<br> (a) a mid‑water trawl;<br> (b) a type of net, rope, chain or other object used in fishing operations that is capable of contacting the seabed;<br> (c) demersal longline;<br> (d) a Danish seine;<br> (e) a Scottish seine.
3
towing, operating or suspending from a ship an object used in an activity mentioned in item 1 or 2
4
scuttling or attempting to scuttle a ship
5
establishing, maintaining or using a spoil ground or other ocean disposal point
Note For paragraph (c) in item 2 setlines and trotlines are examples of demersal longlines.
(2) An activity described in paragraph 2 (b) of table 5 is not a prohibited activity for the purposes of this Declaration if the activity is:
(a) carried out in the course of fishing operations; and
(b) listed as a restricted activity in items 1 to 5 of table 6.
9 Restricted activities in the Northern Sydney Protection Zone
(1) An activity mentioned in an item in table 6 is restricted in the Northern Sydney Protection Zone, subject to an exception mentioned in the item.
Table 6 Restricted activities in the Northern Sydney Protection Zone
Item
Activity
Restriction
1
the use of a net anchored to the seabed
the activity must not occur in waters more than 500 metres from the low‑water mark
2
the use of a pot or trap
the activity must not occur in waters more than 500 metres from the low‑water mark unless:<br> (a) the pot or trap consists of:<br> (i) a rectangular base or floor not exceeding 2 metres in length and 2 metres in width; or<br> (ii) a circular base or floor not exceeding 2 metres in diameter; and<br> (b) the trap rope has a breaking strain that does not exceed 850 kilograms and it is not composed of wire
3
the use of a demersal dropline
the activity must not occur in waters more than 500 metres from the low‑water mark unless:<br> (a) only circle‑type hooks are used; and<br> (b) the demersal dropline has a breaking strain that does not exceed 850 kilograms; and<br> (c) the demersal dropline does not use a mainline, snoods or traces made with wire
4
the use of a demersal fishing line containing J‑hooks
the activity must not occur in waters more than 500 metres from the low‑water mark unless the demersal fishing line has a breaking strain that does not exceed 50 kilograms
5
the use of a grapnel
the activity must not occur in waters more than 500 metres from the low‑water mark unless it occurs in the course of any of the following:<br> (a) exploring for or exploiting resources (other than marine species) in accordance with item 12;<br> (b) installing, maintaining or removing an electricity cable, an oil or gas pipeline and any like cables or pipelines and any associated equipment in accordance with item 7;<br> (c) constructing or removing a navigational aid in accordance with item 10 or 13;<br> (d) constructing or removing an installation for the use of ships in accordance with item 9;<br> (e) conducting civil engineering work in accordance with item 13;<br> (f) conducting research that involves contact with the seabed in accordance with item 14
6
the towing, operating, or suspending from a ship of an object mentioned in items 1 to 5 of this table
the restriction specified in that item
7
installing an electricity cable, an oil or gas pipeline, any like cables or pipelines, and any associated equipment
the activity must not occur unless:<br> (a) the entity responsible for the activity has, not later than 21 days before the activity, provided each cable carrier with:<br> (i) the particulars of the activity to be undertaken; and<br> (ii) the location of the activity; and<br> (b) the entity responsible for the activity has:<br> (i) complied with any reasonable written request for information from a cable carrier within 7 days of receiving the request; and<br> (ii) considered and responded to any reasonable representations made to it by a cable carrier in relation to the likelihood of damage, or an impediment, to the efficient operation, maintenance or repair of a submarine cable in the Northern Sydney Protection Zone; and<br> (c) the activity occurs in a manner that does not damage or impede the efficient operation maintenance, or repair of a submarine cable in the Northern Sydney Protection Zone; and<br> (d) the path across the Northern Sydney Protection Zone followed by the new cable or pipeline is minimised to the greatest extent practicable; and<br> (e) the new cable, pipeline or equipment does not approach or cross a submarine cable in the Northern Sydney Protection Zone less than 500 metres from the cable’s submerged plant items of that submarine cable (as determined following consultation with each cable carrier)
8
maintaining or removing an electricity cable, an oil or gas pipeline, any like cables or pipelines, and any associated equipment
the activity must not occur unless:<br> (a) the entity responsible for the activity has, not later than 21 days before the activity, provided each cable carrier with:<br> (i) the particulars of the activity to be undertaken; and<br> (ii) the location of the activity; and<br> (b) the entity responsible for the activity has:<br> (i) complied with any reasonable written request for information from a cable carrier within 7 days of receiving the request; and<br> (ii) considered and responded to any reasonable representations made to it by a cable carrier in relation to the likelihood of damage, or an impediment, to the efficient operation, maintenance or repair of a submarine cable in the Northern Sydney Protection Zone; and<br> (c) the activity occurs in a manner that is not likely to damage or impede the efficient operation, maintenance, or repair of a submarine cable in the Northern Sydney Protection Zone
9
constructing or removing an installation for the use of ships
the activity must not occur unless:<br> (a) the entity responsible for the activity has, not later than 21 days before the activity, provided each cable carrier with:<br> (i) the particulars of the activity to be undertaken; and<br> (ii) the location of the activity; and<br> (b) the entity responsible for the activity has:<br> (i) complied with any reasonable written request for information from a cable carrier within 7 days of receiving the request; and<br> (ii) considered and responded to any reasonable representations made to it by a cable carrier in relation to the likelihood of damage, or an impediment, to the efficient operation, maintenance or repair of a submarine cable in the Northern Sydney Protection Zone; and<br> (c) the activity occurs in a manner that is not likely to damage or impede the efficient operation, maintenance, or repair of a submarine cable in the Northern Sydney Protection Zone
10
constructing navigational aids
the activity must not occur unless:<br> (a) the entity responsible for the activity has, not later than 21 days before the activity, provided each cable carrier with:<br> (i) the particulars of the activity to be undertaken; and<br> (ii) the location of the activity; and<br> (b) the entity responsible for the activity has:<br> (i) complied with any reasonable written request for information from a cable carrier within 7 days of receiving the request; and<br> (ii) considered and responded to any reasonable representations made to it by a cable carrier in relation to the likelihood of damage, or an impediment, to the efficient operation, maintenance or repair of a submarine cable in the Northern Sydney Protection Zone; and<br> (c) the activity occurs in a manner that is not likely to damage or impede the efficient operation, maintenance, or repair of a submarine cable in the Northern Sydney Protection Zone
11
harvesting the benthos
the activity must not occur in waters more than 500 metres from the low‑water mark unless the activity is conducted by hand
12
exploring for or exploiting resources (other than marine species)
the activity must not occur unless:<br> (a) the entity responsible for the activity has, not later than 21 days before the activity, provided each cable carrier with:<br> (i) the particulars of the activity to be undertaken; and<br> (ii) the location of the activity; and<br> (iii) the expected commencement date and duration of the activities to be undertaken; and<br> (b) the entity responsible for the activity has:<br> (i) complied with any reasonable written request for information from a cable carrier within 7 days of receiving the request; and<br> (ii) considered and responded to any reasonable representations made to it by a cable carrier in relation to the likelihood of damage, or an impediment, to the efficient operation, maintenance or repair of a submarine cable in the Northern Sydney Protection Zone; and<br> (c) the activity occurs in a manner that is not likely to damage or impede the efficient operation, maintenance or repair of a submarine cable in the Northern Sydney Protection Zone; and<br> (d) if a planned seismic survey would result in pressure waves of 2.0 bar or more arriving at the seabed in the location of any electro‑optic devices associated with a submarine cable, the entity conducting the seismic survey company adjusts the grid lines in order to reduce the pressure seen by the electro‑optic devices to less than 2.0 bar; and<br> (e) the activity, to the extent that it relates to exploiting resources, is not likely to involve physical contact with the seabed (other than in the installation of cables or pipelines in accordance with item 7)
13
removing a navigational aid or conducting civil engineering work
the activity must not occur unless:<br> (a) the entity responsible for the activity has, not later than 21 days before the activity, provided each cable carrier with:<br> (i) the particulars of the activity to be undertaken; and<br> (ii) the location of the activity; and<br> (b) the entity responsible for the activity has:<br> (i) complied with any reasonable written request for information from a cable carrier within 7 days of receiving the request; and<br> (ii) considered and responded to any reasonable representations made to it by a cable carrier in relation to the likelihood of damage, or an impediment, to the efficient operation, maintenance or repair of a submarine cable in the Northern Sydney Protection Zone; and<br> (c) the activity occurs in a manner that is not likely to damage or impede the efficient operation, maintenance, or repair of a submarine cable in the Northern Sydney Protection Zone
14
conducting research that involves contact with the seabed
the activity must not occur in waters more than 500 metres from the low‑water mark unless:<br> (a) the entity responsible for the activity has, not later than 21 days before the activity, provided each cable carrier with:<br> (i) the particulars of the activity to be undertaken; and<br> (ii) the location of the activity; and<br> (b) the entity responsible for the activity has:<br> (i) complied with any reasonable written request for information from a cable carrier within 7 days of receiving the request; and<br> (ii) considered and responded to any reasonable representations made to it by a cable carrier in relation to the likelihood of damage, or an impediment, to the efficient operation, maintenance or repair of a submarine cable in the Northern Sydney Protection Zone; and<br> (c) the activity occurs in a manner that is not likely to damage or impede the efficient operation, maintenance, or repair of a submarine cable in the Northern Sydney Protection Zone
15
the use of an explosive or explosive device
the activity must not occur unless:<br> (a) the activity occurs in the course of exploring for or exploiting resources (other than marine species) in accordance with item 12; or<br> (b) the activity occurs in the course of constructing or removing a navigational aid, an installation for the use of ships, or conducting civil engineering work in accordance with item 9, 10 or 13; or<br> (c) the activity occurs in the course of an exercise conducted by or with the Australian Defence Force within a declared Firing Practice Area
16
lowering, raising or suspending a shotline from a ship
the activity must not occur in waters more than 500 metres from the low‑water mark unless:<br> (a) the ship is operating in waters less than 100 metres deep; and<br> (b) the shot does not weigh more than 20 kilograms; and<br> (c) the shotline has a maximum breaking strain that does not exceed 850 kilograms
17
lowering, raising or suspending an anchor from a ship
the activity must not occur in waters more than 500 metres from the low‑water mark unless:<br> (a) the ship is operating in waters less than 100 metres deep, and<br> (i) the ship’s anchor does not weigh more than 20 kilograms and is fitted with a trip release mechanism; and<br> (ii) the anchor line has a maximum breaking strain that does not exceed 850 kilograms at the point of attachment to the anchor or anchor chain assembly; or<br> (b) the anchor does not weigh more than 30 kilograms and the ship is anchored within 200 metres of a shipwreck site the coordinates of which are described in table 7
Note 1 Items 1 to 6 and 11 to 17 of table 6 relate to paragraph 11 (3) (g) of Schedule 3A to the Act.
Note 2 Items 7 and 8 of table 6 relate to paragraph 11 (3) (d) of Schedule 3A to the Act.
Note 3 Item 9 of table 6 relates to paragraph 11 (3) (e) of Schedule 3A to the Act.
Note 4 Item 10 of table 6 relates to paragraph 11 (3) (f) of Schedule 3A to the Act.
Example 1
In relation to item 1 of table 6 a demersal gillnet and a beach safety meshing net (within the meaning given by clause 42 of the Fisheries Management (General) Regulation 2002 (NSW) as in force at the commencement of this Declaration) are nets that are anchored to the seabed.
Example 2
In relation to item 11 of table 6 harvesting the benthos by hand includes the use of an abalone spatula.
Example 3
In relation to item 12 of table 6 repeaters, equalisers and branching units are electro‑optic devices.
Example 4
In relation to item 17 of table 6 a sliding ring anchor and a trip release anchor are anchors fitted with a trip release mechanism.
(2) Table 7 sets out shipwreck coordinates for the purposes of the exception to the restriction in paragraph (b) in item 17 in table 6.
Table 7 Coordinates for shipwreck sites in the Northern Sydney Protection Zone