GEOPHYSICAL surveys in Cockburn Sound begin this month as a next step in planning for the new Westport at Kwinana.
The surveys, planned to run until the end of the year, will gather information about Cockburn Sound, building on data collected during geophysical surveys completed last year.
The surveys will generate spatial maps of the seafloor and sections of the sub-seafloor within the footprint of the proposed port facilities in Cockburn Sound and up through Gage Roads, where the proposed navigation channel will traverse.
The aim is to better understand topography, benthic habitat, geology and geological structures and magnetic and density properties.
An update on the Westport website said a better understanding of the seafloor and what lies beneath it will allow Westport to progress more detailed design and planning activities, as well as provide input to Westport’s State and Commonwealth environmental impact assessments.
“Geophysical surveys help plan marine infrastructure projects but can also lead to interesting and unexpected finds, like the sunken sailboat found nearly two kilometres off the coast of Naval Base beach in 2023 which was never previously recorded or reported,” the report said.
“Some geophysical surveys can cause underwater noise above levels recommended for divers and swimmers, so best practice processes are in place to limit human interactions with survey vessels and equipment. Surveys will also implement processes to manage interactions with marine fauna and minimise any potential disturbance.”
