Proposed amendment to Shoalwater Bay Training area

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    Open consultation
    QLD
    28 days remaining
    Start 18/06/2026
    AEST 10:00
    End 16/07/2026
    AEST 17:00

    Submit feedback to

    National Airspace Management Office  (NAMO)
    Department of Defence
    namo.airspace@defence.gov.au

    Defence proposes to increase the vertical limit of R642 airspace to better facilitate military training objectives under the Australia Singapore Military Training Initiative (ASMTI). To reduce the impact on civilian traffic, the lateral boundaries of R642 and associated airspace shall be reduced.

    The issue

    • Current vertical dimensions of SWBTA place restrictions on military training objectives. 
    • The vertical dimensions of SWBTA are proposed to increase. 
    • The lateral dimension of SWBTA are proposed to reduce.

    Purpose

    Defence in its review of the airspace associated with the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) is proposing to vary the vertical and lateral boundaries of associated airspace.

    Defence in its review of the airspace associated with the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) is proposing to vary the vertical and lateral boundaries. Defence proposes the following changes: 

    • Defence proposes R642 be divided into four portions. R642A (existing); R642B (existing); R642X (new); and R6XX (new). The lateral size of R642A/B have been reduced within this proposal to align with a train line running along the western boundary.
    • To achieve desired training outcomes, R642X and R6XX are required to be created.
    • To align adjacent airspace with the new lateral boundaries of the R642 series, Defence further proposes amendment of the western boundaries of R643, D618 and D619.

    In 2023, Defence established Restricted Airspace within the SWBTA under the ASMTI. Under this initiative, Singapore invested in Australia’s enhancement of training areas to meet the future needs of the Australian Defence Force and facilitate an increased presence of Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) personnel conducting unilateral training in Australia. Post expansion feedback has highlighted that higher vertical airspace is required to meet military training objectives within this area. 

    The proposal will reduce the lateral boundaries of the associated airspace reducing the impact on civil aviation. The current Restricted Area (RA) status of RA2 for R642B and R643 will remain unchanged. R642A shall also remain as an RA3 airspace. 

    Proposed DAH Amendment

    YBBB/R642A MT WELLINGTON – Note amended western boundary.
    CONDITIONAL STATUS: RA3
    MILITARY FLYING/NON FLYING
    LATERAL LIMITS: 222225S 1494810E – 222220S 1494951E
    223059S 1495641E – 223836S 1500255E
    223928S 1500345E – 224042S 1500435E
    224158S 1500250E – 224324S 1500119E
    224318S 1495959E – 224458S 1495922E
    224348S 1495557E - 224131S 1495604E
    224014S 1495725E – 223829S 1495722E
    223828S 1495716E – 223823S 1495556E
    223855S 1495551E – 223855S 1495503E
    224213S 1495440E – 224154S 1495227E
    224127S 1495146E – 224047S 1494634E 
    224400S 1494600E then north via train line - 223532S 1493752S 
    223215S 1493747E - 222225S 1494810E
    VERTICAL LIMITS: SFC - 2000
    HOURS OF ACTIVITY: NOTAM

    Image 1: R642A

    YBBB/R642B MT WELLINGTON – Note amended western boundary. 
    CONDITIONAL STATUS: RA2
    MILITARY FLYING/NON FLYING
    LATERAL LIMITS: 222225S 1494810E – 222220S 1494951E
    223059S 1495641E – 223836S 1500255E
    223928S 1500345E – 224042S 1500435E
    224158S 1500250E – 224324S 1500119E
    224318S 1495959E – 224458S 1495922E
    224348S 1495557E - 224131S 1495604E
    224014S 1495725E – 223829S 1495722E
    223828S 1495716E – 223823S 1495556E
    223855S 1495551E – 223855S 1495503E
    224213S 1495440E – 224154S 1495227E
    224127S 1495146E – 224047S 1494634E 
    224400S 1494600E then north via train line - 223532S 1493752S 
    223215S 1493747E - 222225S 1494810E
    VERTICAL LIMITS: 2000 - 6000
    HOURS OF ACTIVITY: NOTAM

    Image 2: R642B

    YBBB/R642X MT WELLINGTON 
    CONDITIONAL STATUS: RA2
    MILITARY FLYING/NON FLYING
    LATERAL LIMITS: 222225S 1494810E – 222220S 1494951E
    223059S 1495641E – 223836S 1500255E
    223928S 1500345E – 224042S 1500435E
    224158S 1500250E – 224324S 1500119E
    224318S 1495959E – 224458S 1495922E
    224348S 1495557E - 224131S 1495604E
    224014S 1495725E – 223829S 1495722E
    223828S 1495716E – 223823S 1495556E
    223855S 1495551E – 223855S 1495503E
    224213S 1495440E – 224154S 1495227E
    224127S 1495146E – 224047S 1494634E 
    224400S 1494600E then north via train line - 223532S 1493752S 
    223215S 1493747E - 222225S 1494810E
    VERTICAL LIMITS: 6000 - 8500
    HOURS OF ACTIVITY: NOTAM

    Image 3: R642X 6000 - 8500

    YBBB/R6XX MT WELLINGTON 
    CONDITIONAL STATUS: RA2
    MILITARY FLYING/NON FLYING
    LATERAL LIMITS: 222225S 1494810E – 222220S 1494951E
    223435S 1495938E
    Then along the counter clockwise arc of a circle radius 55.00NM centre 232258S 1502818E (RK/DME) – 224105S 1494925E
    224047S 1494634E – 224400S 1494600E then north via train line - 223532S 1493752E 
    223215S 1493747E – 222225S 1494810E
    VERTICAL LIMITS: 8500 – FL155
    HOURS OF ACTIVITY: NOTAM

    Image 4: R6XX 8500 - fl155

    YBBB/R643 SHOALWATER BAY WEST – Note amended western boundary
    CONDITIONAL STATUS: RA2
    MILITARY FLYING/NON FLYING
    LATERAL LIMITS: 222220S 1494951E - 222118S 1500920E
    222634S 1500643E - 222937S 1500721E
    223312S 1500644E - 223739S 1500649E
    223831S 1500710E - 224207S 1500952E
    224321S 1501011E - 224513S 1500958E
    224620S 1500957E - 225130S 1501330E
    224400S 1494600E - 224047S 1494634E
    224127S 1495146E - 224154S 1495227E
    224213S 1495440E - 223855S 1495503E
    223855S 1495551E - 223823S 1495556E
    223828S 1495716E - 223829S 1495722E
    224014S 1495725E - 224131S 1495604E
    224348S 1495557E - 224458S 1495922E
    224318S 1495959E - 224324S 1500119E
    224158S 1500250E - 224042S 1500435E
    223928S 1500345E - 223836S 1500255E
    223059S 1495641E – 
    222220S 1494951E
    VERTICAL LIMITS: 2000 - 6000
    HOURS OF ACTIVITY: NOTAM

    Image 5: R643

    YBBB/D618 SHOALWATER BAY WEST – Note amended western boundary.
    MILITARY FLYING/TRANSIT AREA
    LATERAL LIMITS: 222225S 1494810E – 222220S 1494951E
    222118S 1500920E – 222634S 1500643E
    222937S 1500721E – 223312S 1500644E
    223739S 1500649E – 223831S 1500710E
    224207S 1500952E – 224321S 1501011E
    224513S 1500958E – 224620S 1500957E
    225130S 1501330E – 
    224400S 1494600E then north via train line - 223532S 1493752S 
    223215S 1493747E - 222225S 1494810E
    VERTICAL LIMITS: SFC – 2000
    HOURS OF ACTIVITY: NOTAM

    Image 6: D618 

    YBBB/D619 ROCKHAMPTON– Note amended western boundary
    MILITARY FLYING
    LATERAL LIMITS: 224400S 1494600E – 225130S 1501330E
    230854S 1500954E – 224400S 1494600E
    VERTICAL LIMITS: SFC – 4500
    HOURS OF ACTIVITY: NOTAM

    Image 7: D619 

    A map depicting the new western boundary for D618 and D619 can be see below. 

    Image 8: D618 and D619

    Submitted by

    National Airspace Management Office Department of Defence
    namo.airspace@defence.gov.au

    Related links

    https://defence.gov.au/Initiatives/ASMTI