Safety zones and the area to be avoided (ATBA)

Safety zones are specified areas surrounding petroleum or greenhouse gas wells, structures or equipment which vessels or classes of vessel are prohibited from entering or being present in.

On 1 January 2012, NOPSEMA commenced administration of petroleum safety zones as provided for in Chapter 6, Part 6.6 of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 (OPGGS Act). On 28 April 2020, NOPSEMA commenced administration of greenhouse gas safety zones. 

Safety zones and ATBA applications

NOPSEMA's role involves assessment of applications for:

• the prohibition of vessels from entering or being present in a specified area (the safety zone) surrounding the petroleum or greenhouse gas well, structure or equipment, via a notice published in the Gazette by NOPSEMA
• written consent for vessels to enter and be present in a safety zone
• written authorisation for a vessel to enter and be present in "the area to be avoided" (ATBA), a large defined area in the Bass Strait detailed in schedule 2 to the OPGGS Act.

See also Submitting regulatory documents page. 

Key features of NOPSEMA's approach include:

• only considering safety zones for petroleum or greenhouse gas wells, structures or items of equipment as provided for in Sections 616 and 617 of the OPGGS Act
• formal processes incorporating decision making criteria and timeframes
• a requirement for applicants to demonstrate effective consultation with parties which may be directly impacted
• a mechanism for interested parties to be informed of notices being gazetted.

Completed application forms should be submitted to submissions@nopsema.gov.au.

Publication of accepted safety zone and ATBA authorisations

Accepted safety zone applications are published in the Commonwealth Gazette. 

NOPSEMA maintains a list of current petroleum and greenhouse gas safety zones and a list of vessels currently authorised to be in the ATBA.

Alleged infringements of a safety zone 

A range of agencies have a role in enforcing petroleum safety zones) (PSZs). NOPSEMA provides a reporting template (see Report of an alleged safety zone infringement form below) to enable titleholders and facility operators to capture and pass on relevant information to "authorised persons" e.g. Australian Federal Police, State or Territory Police, Defence Force or Border Force. This information may assist authorised persons in exercising their powers. 

When NOPSEMA receives a notification and/or a report of a potential breach of the safety zone provisions, it will investigate and consider whether any enforcement action is required. Where a potential breach of safety zone provisions requires the facility emergency response plan to be implemented, the operator must notify and report the event to NOPSEMA as a dangerous occurrence in accordance with clause 82 of schedule 3 to the OPGGS Act. 

See also Report an incident page.

Reporting forms should be sent to the appropriate authorised person and cc'd to NOPSEMA at submissions@nopsema.gov.au.