NOTICE of INTENT Clarence Strait Tidal Energy Project, Northern Territory

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

NOTICE of INTENT Clarence Strait Tidal Energy Project, Northern Territory J:\J obs \42213817\ 6 D eli v\Clar ence Str ait N OI FINA L\Cl arenc e Strai t Tidal Energ y N otic e of I nt ent amendment .doc Clarence Strait Tidal Energy Project, Northern Territory NOTICE OF INTENT Clarence Strait Tidal Energy Project, Northern Territory Prepared for Tenax Energy GPO Box 2848 Darwin NT 0801 17 December 2008 42213817 CLARENCE STRAIT TIDAL ENERGY PROJECT, NORTHERN TERRITORY Project Manager: URS Australia Pty Ltd Shelley Franklyn Level 3, 93 Mitchell Street Environmental Scientist Darwin, NT 0801 URS GPO Box 2005, Darwin NT 0801 Australia Tel: 61 8 8980 2900 Project Director: Fax: 61 8 8941 3920 Ian Hollingsworth Principal Environmental Scientist URS Author: Date: 17 December 2008 Reference: Notice of Intent, Tidal Power Generator, Clarence Strait, Northern Territory Shelley Franklyn Status: FINAL Environmental Scientist URS Proponent: Alan Major Managing Director Tenax Energy Prepared for Tenax Energy, 17 December 2008 J:\Jobs\42213817\6 Deliv\Clarence Strait NOI FINAL\Clarence Strait Tidal Energy Notice of Intent amendment.doc CLARENCE STRAIT TIDAL ENERGY PROJECT, NORTHERN TERRITORY Table of Contents Tabl e of C ont ents 1 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 1 2 Project Background ......................................................................................... 2 2.1 Name and Contact Details of Person Lodging the Application ................................. 2 2.2 Proponent ........................................................................................................................ 2 2.3 Project Name and Location............................................................................................ 2 2.3.1 Project Name .................................................................................................... 2 2.3.2 Project Location ................................................................................................ 2 2.4 Policy Support................................................................................................................. 4 2.4.1 Power generation and consumption in the NT ................................................. 4 3 Site Selection.................................................................................................... 5 3.1 Requirements .................................................................................................................. 5 3.1.1 Clarence Strait site ........................................................................................... 5 3.2 Description of Preferred Area........................................................................................ 5 3.2.1 Turbine Area ..................................................................................................... 5 3.2.2 Submarine Cable Area ..................................................................................... 7 3.2.3 Shore Crossing ................................................................................................. 7 3.3 Jurisdiction...................................................................................................................... 8 4 Project Description .......................................................................................... 9 4.1 Background to Tidal Energy Generation...................................................................... 9 4.1.1 Tidal energy applications worldwide................................................................. 9 4.2 Tidal Stream Systems................................................................................................... 10 4.3 Science of Tidal Energy Generation ........................................................................... 10 4.4 Clarence Strait Energy Potential ................................................................................. 11 4.4.1 Site Selection.................................................................................................. 12 4.5 Turbine density ............................................................................................................. 12 4.6 Turbine design .............................................................................................................. 12 4.6.1 Tidal electricity generators.............................................................................. 12 4.7 Turbine Components.................................................................................................... 13 4.7.1 Rotor ............................................................................................................... 14 4.7.2 Open centre turbine ........................................................................................ 14 4.7.3 Duct................................................................................................................. 14 4.7.4 Stator .............................................................................................................. 14 Prepared for Tenax Energy, 17 December 2008 J:\Jobs\42213817\6 Deliv\Clarence Strait NOI FINAL\Clarence Strait Tidal Energy Notice of Intent amendment.doc i CLARENCE STRAIT TIDAL ENERGY PROJECT, NORTHERN TERRITORY Table of Contents 4.7.5 Generator........................................................................................................ 14 4.7.6 Gravity Base ................................................................................................... 15 4.8 Construction, Operation and Maintenance ................................................................ 16 4.8.1 Installation....................................................................................................... 16 4.8.2 Operation ........................................................................................................ 17 4.8.3 Maintenance ................................................................................................... 17 4.8.4 Decommissioning ........................................................................................... 18 4.8.5 Waste and Hazardous Substances ................................................................ 18 4.9 Electricity Connection .................................................................................................. 18 4.9.1 Cable Route .................................................................................................... 18 4.9.2 Electricity Flow................................................................................................ 19 4.9.3 Installation....................................................................................................... 19 5 Description of the Environment .................................................................... 20 5.1 Previous Environmental Assessments....................................................................... 20 5.2 Direct Impacts on Physical Environment ................................................................... 20 5.2.1 Bathymetry and Topography .......................................................................... 20 5.2.2 Geology and Geomorphology......................................................................... 20 5.3 Marine and terrestrial species ..................................................................................... 20 5.4 Description of the Human Environment ..................................................................... 24 5.4.1 Social .............................................................................................................. 24 5.4.2 Economic ........................................................................................................ 24 5.4.3 Recreation and Tourism ................................................................................. 24 5.4.4 Transport......................................................................................................... 24 5.4.5 Cultural Heritage............................................................................................. 24 6 Issues Identification ....................................................................................... 25 6.1 Potential Direct Physical Environmental Impacts ..................................................... 25 6.1.1 Bathymetry and Topography .......................................................................... 25 6.1.2 Geology and Geomorphology......................................................................... 25 6.1.3 Marine Species ............................................................................................... 26 6.2 Indirect Impacts on the Physical Environment .......................................................... 27 6.2.1 Environment benefits ...................................................................................... 27 6.3 Health ............................................................................................................................. 27 6.4 Economic ....................................................................................................................... 27 Prepared for Tenax Energy, 17 December 2008 J:\Jobs\42213817\6 Deliv\Clarence Strait NOI FINAL\Clarence Strait Tidal Energy Notice of Intent amendment.doc ii CLARENCE STRAIT TIDAL ENERGY PROJECT, NORTHERN TERRITORY Table of Contents 6.4.1 Direct Economic Impacts................................................................................ 27 6.4.2 Indirect Economic Impacts.............................................................................
Recommended publications
  • Fishing the Tiwi Islands Welcome to Our Islands
    FISHING THE TIWI ISLANDS WELCOME TO OUR ISLANDS The Tiwi Islands are made up of Melville and Bathurst Islands and numerous smaller, adjacent islands. The Vernon Islands also form part of the Tiwi estate. The Tiwi Traditional Owners and custodians of the area welcome you to our islands and ask that you respect and recognise the cultural importance of our land and waters. CODE OF Conduct RESPect THE RIGHts OF TRADITIONAL OWNERS. • Understand and observe all fishing regulations and no fishing zones. Report illegal fishing activities to the FISHWATCH hotline 1800 891 136 or the Tiwi Land Council HQ at Pickataramoor - 08 8970 9373. • Take no more fish than your immediate needs and carefully return excess or unwanted fish into the water unharmed. • Be courteous to all water users and those who belong to local Tiwi communities. • Respect Tiwi cultural ceremonies. This may mean that a particular area is temporarily closed to access. • Do not land ashore without first obtaining a separate Aboriginal land permit, from the Tiwi Land Council and abide by alcohol restrictions for the area. • Respect sacred sites and do not enter any part of the waters containing identified sacred sites unless specifically permitted to do so by the Tiwi Land Council. • Do not clean or dispose of fish within the vicinity of a community. • Prevent pollution and protect wildlife by removing rubbish and dispose of correctly to avoid potentially entrapping birds and other aquatic creatures. TIWI AND VERNON ISLANDS zones PERMIT FREE access The Tiwi have agreed to provide permit free access to the intertidal waters of the Tiwi and the Vernon Islands in the areas as outlined in the attached map.
    [Show full text]
  • Northern Territory) Act 1976
    Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 No. 191, 1976 Compilation No. 41 Compilation date: 4 April 2019 Includes amendments up to: Act No. 27, 2019 Registered: 15 April 2019 Prepared by the Office of Parliamentary Counsel, Canberra Authorised Version C2019C00143 registered 15/04/2019 About this compilation This compilation This is a compilation of the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 4 April 2019 (the compilation date). The notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of provisions of the compiled law. Uncommenced amendments The effect of uncommenced amendments is not shown in the text of the compiled law. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on the Legislation Register (www.legislation.gov.au). The details of amendments made up to, but not commenced at, the compilation date are underlined in the endnotes. For more information on any uncommenced amendments, see the series page on the Legislation Register for the compiled law. Application, saving and transitional provisions for provisions and amendments If the operation of a provision or amendment of the compiled law is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details are included in the endnotes. Editorial changes For more information about any editorial changes made in this compilation, see the endnotes. Modifications If the compiled law is modified by another law, the compiled law operates as modified but the modification does not amend the text of the law.
    [Show full text]
  • Download Date 28/09/2021 05:31:59
    Dugong Status Report and Action Plans for Countries and Territories Item Type Report Authors Eros, C.; Hugues, J.; Penrose, H.; Marsh, H. Citation UNEP/DEWA/RS.02-1 Publisher UNEP Download date 28/09/2021 05:31:59 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/1834/317 Figure 5.1 – The Palau region in relation to the Philippines and Indonesia. used to give dugong ribs to a carver who had died performed mainly at night from small boats powered with recently. Locally crafted jewellery from dugong ribs was outboard motors (>35hp). Most dugongs are harpooned on sale at a minimum of four stores in Koror in 1991. At after being chased. A hunter who used to dynamite least two of the retailers knew that this was illegal (Marsh dugongs (Brownell et al. 1981) claimed that he had et al. 1995). This practice had stopped by 1997 (Idechong ceased this practice in 1978. The hunters interviewed in & Smith pers comm. 1998). 1991 maintained that nets are never used to catch The major threat to dugongs in Palau is poaching. dugongs, although some of them knew that netting is an Although hunting is illegal, dugongs are still poached effective capture method. All the hunters were aware that regularly in the Koror area and along the western coast of killing dugongs is illegal. Their overwhelming motive for Babeldaob (Figure 5.2). The extent and nature of hunting hunting is that it is an exciting way to obtain meat. The was investigated by Brownell et al. (1981) and Marsh et illegality adds to the thrill.
    [Show full text]
  • 28 August 2020 to Whom It May Concern, Submission
    28 August 2020 NT Planning Commission GPO Box 1680, DARWIN NT 0801 Via email [email protected] ​ To whom it may concern, Submission - Planning for Gunn Point Peninsula The Keep Top End Coasts Healthy (KTECH) is an alliance of environment groups including the Australian Marine Conservation Society, the Pew Charitable Trusts and the Environment Centre of the Northern Territory. We welcome the opportunity to comment on the Planning for Gunn Peninsula and Glyde Point. Glyde Point is an area of significant cultural importance with high conservation, tourism, fishing and cultural values, including mangroves, coral reefs, rainforest and woodlands. The area is a feeding ground for endangered turtle and dugong species; it is a highly valued recreational fishing area for the Top End community and sustains other fishing areas nearby; and it contains significant cultural sites and areas of ongoing use for the Traditional Owners. Clearing thousands of hectares of land, dredging a port, and installing heavy industry here would destroy what the Top End community holds dear about this place. The NT Government recognised this in October 2007 when, after a sustained period of broad community opposition to a similar massive land clearing and port dredging proposal, it designated the area Public Open Space and protected it from more inappropriate development. Reversing this protection now makes no sense for the environment or for our community. Our submission below focuses on the harmful impacts that this massive industrial development would have for our coasts and the people who love them. This proposal to develop a massive port and industrial estate and a town of 36000 at Gunn Peninsula and Glyde Points will undo over a decade of protection of this area.
    [Show full text]
  • Joe Cooper and the Tiwi (1895—1936)
    Memories of the buffalo shooters: Joe Cooper and the Tiwi (1895—1936) John Morris The Tiwi Islands, of which Melville is the largest, are located to the northwest of Dar­ win, Northern Territory. In the 1960s memories of the exploits of buffalo shooter Joe Cooper on Melville Island were still fresh in the minds of the Tiwi elders. These exploits made a serious impact on local society, bringing about changes that were, to some extent, to transform the future of the islanders. Cooper's presence in the islands brought about not only a level of cultural innovation but also lasting connections with a mainland tribe, who like the Tiwi, had experienced a British garrison in their tribal country in the 1820s.1 Furthermore, for the first time the Tiwi were to suffer violence at the hands of another Indigenous group.2 In the broader public a mythology developed about Cooper.3 He was credited with fighting a fictitious duel to become 'king' of the island, and with establishing a peaceful environment in which he could travel unarmed and a mission could be estab­ lished in the islands. In truth, Robert Joel (Joe) Cooper and his brother Harry had moved from their native South Australia to the Northern Territory, in about 1881, later becoming buffalo hunters on the Cobourg Peninsula and in the Alligator Rivers area. Joe then managed buffalo shooting operations on Melville Island for EO Robinson who successfully applied for two pastoral leases over Melville Island in 1892.4 Buffalo shoot­ ing operations there actually commenced in April 1895 when Robinson sailed for Cape Gambier on southern Melville Island with Joe Cooper and J (Barney) Flynn, together with a team of horses.3 Cape Gambier is located in the 'country' of the Mandiimbula, one of the Tiwi bands.
    [Show full text]
  • Vernon Islands Conservation Management Plan
    VERNON ISLANDS Conservation Management Plan Tiwi Land Council May 2013 BACKGROUND The Vernon Islands are located in the Clarence Strait in the Northern Territory, between the Australian mainland at Gunn Point and Melville Island's southernmost point, Cape Gambier. Philip Parker King named the islands in May 1818, honouring the Archbishop of York Edward Venables-Vernon-Harcourt. There are three major islands making up the Vernon Islands group, plus a large reef and numerous lesser reefs and sand islands (Figure 1). The islands are low lying, with a maximum height of 4 metres above mean sea level. There are small areas of sandy beach where access is relatively easy, and each island has numerous small creeks that enable access inland past the mangrove thickets. Much of the area around the islands, including the reefs, are exposed at lower tides (Graham, 2008). The islands are generally fringed with mangroves and surrounded by mud flats and rocks/reefs at low tide. In clearer waters hard corals such as Acropora and Montipora predominate, and extensive coralline algal terraces are developed in the reef complex (IMCRA, 1998). While oceanic currents exert only minor influence on the region, the area is dominated by strong internal circulation with little oceanic interaction. This results in strong and complex currents between and around the Vernon Islands, and turbulent wave action during monsoon conditions (Smit et. al., 2000). Tiwi islanders sometimes refer to the group of islands as the Potinga Islands, comprising Kulangana, (Southwest Vernon Island), Warabatj (Northwest Vernon Island) and Muma (East Vernon Island) (Graham, 2008). In 1974 the Vernon Islands and Knight Reef were declared crown reserve 1444 under Section 103 of the Commonwealth Crown Lands Ordinance, and under the management of the Conservation Commission of the NT.
    [Show full text]
  • Interim Marine and Coastal Regionalisation for Australia
    Interim Marine and Coastal Regionalisation for Australia: An ecosystem-based classification for marine and coastal environments IMCRA Technical Group June 1998 • Version 3.3 The regionalisations presented in this report were compiled from regional frameworks developed by the Commonwealth, States and Northern Territory marine management and research agencies. The compilation was coordinated by the Biodiversity Group, Environment Australia. IMCRA Version 3.3 was developed through the technical input, information and advice of the following agencies and individuals. Numerous people contributed to previous versions of IMCRA and are acknowledged in the Acknowledgments. IMCRA Technical Group Commonwealth Australian Geological Survey Organisation (Bob Burne, now with the Australian National University) Biodiversity Group, Environment Australia (Ian Cresswell and Richard Thackway) CSIRO Division of Marine Research (Vincent Lyne and Peter Last) CSIRO Division of Wildlife and Ecology (Neil Hamilton) Environmental Resource Information Network (ERIN), Environment Australia (Steve Blake) Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (Jim Muldoon and Joan Phillips) New South Wales New South Wales Fisheries (David Pollard) New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service (Ian Brown) Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife Commission (Ron Billyard) Queensland Department of Environment (Tim Stevens) South Australia South Australian Research and Development Institute (Karen Edyvane) Department of Environment and Natural Resources (Doug Fotheringham) Tasmania Department of Environment and Land Management (Peter Bosworth and Dave Peters) University of Tasmania (Graham Edgar) Victoria Department of Natural Resources and Environment (Don Hough and Chris Ashe) Western Australia Department of Conservation and Land Management (Chris Simpson) The report has been prepared under the auspices of the ANZECC Task Force on Marine Protected Areas.
    [Show full text]
  • Stage 1 - Database 1: Introduced Species on Northern Territory Islands (Com ID: 49530)
    Stage 1 - Database 1: Introduced Species on Northern Territory Islands (Com ID: 49530) Decimal Decimal Island Name Lat Long GROUP_NAME INDNAME Gazetteer AREA_HA_ Land Tenure Category Land Status Ownership NT Bioregion Joined? Surveyed? Arnhem Land Aboriginal ALGER ISLAND 135.96611 -11.87810 CUNNINGHAM ISLANDS/WESSEL ISLANDS Toombuli Yes 845.333 Aboriginal Freehold and Leasehold Aboriginal Freehold and Leasehold Land Trust Arnhem Coast no Yes Arnhem Land Aboriginal ANGARMBULUMARDJA ISLAND 136.63495 -13.66611 Yes 169.956 Aboriginal Freehold and Leasehold Aboriginal Freehold and Leasehold Land Trust Arnhem Coast no No Arnhem Land Aboriginal ASTELL ISLAND 136.39856 -11.88248 THE ENGLISH COMPANYS ISLANDS Yinbadak Yes 1264.439 Aboriginal Freehold and Leasehold Aboriginal Freehold and Leasehold Land Trust Arnhem Coast no Yes Arnhem Land Aboriginal not an off BANYAN ISLAND 135.21349 -12.25819 Yes 4943.473 Aboriginal Freehold and Leasehold Aboriginal Freehold and Leasehold Land Trust Arnhem Coast shore island No BARRON ISLAND 132.35042 -12.17392 Djidbordu Yes 450.472 Aboriginal Freehold - National Park Reserve Kakadu National Park Darwin Coastal no Yes Arnhem Land Aboriginal not an off BAT ISLAND 134.17367 -12.10151 Yes 376.139 Aboriginal Freehold and Leasehold Aboriginal Freehold and Leasehold Land Trust Arnhem Coast shore island No BATHURST ISLAND 130.32948 -11.57578 Yes 169319.353 Aboriginal Freehold and Leasehold Aboriginal Freehold and Leasehold Tiwi Land Trust Tiwi Cobourg no Yes Aboriginal Freehold and BEATRICE ISLAND 135.78374 -15.09723
    [Show full text]
  • Characterisation of the Marine Environment of the North Marine Region
    CHARACTERISATION OF THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT OF THE NORTH MARINE REGION Outcomes of an Expert Workshop Darwin, Northern Territory 2-3 April 2007 Prepared by: North Marine Bioregional Planning Section Marine Division Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts PREFACE The Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts is developing a Marine Bioregional Plan for the North Marine Region under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). The aim of the Plan is to provide a comprehensive source of information and specific guidance for making decisions of relevance to the Region under the EPBC Act. The Department requires scientific input at the following key stages in the development of the Plan: 1. During development of the Marine Bioregional Profile, to ensure that descriptions of the ecological systems and characteristics of the Region are based on comprehensive and up-to- date scientific knowledge, integrated across the relevant disciplines. For the North Marine Region, this has been done through: a. the National Marine Bioregionalisation, which is based on a synthesis of biological, geological and oceanographic data; b. a comprehensive review of relevant data and literature, supplemented by a number of key reports including: • The North Marine Region Marine Bioregional Plan: Information and Analysis for the Regional Profile (Rochester et al., 2007), • Seascapes of the Australian Margin and Adjacent Sea Floor: Methodology and Results (Whiteway et al., 2007), • Geomorphology and Sedimentology of the Northern Marine Planning Area of Australia (Heap et al., 2004), and • A Description of Key Species Groups in the Northern Planning Area (National Oceans Office, 2004); and c.
    [Show full text]
  • Picturesque Atlas of Australasia Maps
    A-Signal Battery. I-Workshops. B-Observatory . K-Government House. C-Hospital. L-Palmer's Farm. .__4 S URVEY D-Prison. M-Officers ' Quarters. of E-Barracks . N-Magazine. F-Store Houses. 0-Gallows. THE SET TLEMENT ;n i Vh u/ ,S OUTN ALES G-Marine Barracks . P-Brick-kilns. H-Prisoners ' Huts. Q-Brickfields. LW OLLANI) iz /` 5Mile t4 2 d2 36 Engraved by A.Dulon 4 L.Poates • 1FTTh T i1111Tm»iTIT1 149 .Bogga 1 a 151 Bengalla • . l v' r-- Cootamundra Coola i r A aloe a 11lichellago 4 I A.J. SCALLY DEL. , it 153 'Greggreg ll tai III IJL. INDEX TO GENERAL MAP OF NE W SOUTH W ALES . NOTE -The letters after the names correspond with those in the borders of the map, and indicate the square in which the name will be found. Abercrombie River . Billagoe Mountain Bundella . J d Conjurong Lake . Dromedary Mountain. Aberdeen . Binalong . Bunda Lake C d Coogee . Drummond Mountain. Aberfoyle River . Binda . Bundarra . L c Cook (county) . Dry Bogan (creek) Acacia Creek . Bingera . Bunganbil Hill G g Coolabah . Dry Lake . Acres Billabong . Binyah . Bungarry Lake . E g Coolaburrag u ndy River Dry Lake Adelong Bird Island Bungendore J h Coolac Dry Lake Beds . Adelong Middle . Birie River Bungle Gully I c Coolah . Dry River . Ailsa . Bishop 's Bridge . Bungonia . J g Coolaman . Dubbo Creek Albemarle Black Head Bunker 's Creek . D d Coolbaggie Creek Dubbo Albert Lake . Blackheath Bunna Bunna Creek J b Cooleba Creek Duck Creek Albury . Black Point Bunyan J i Cooma Dudanman Hill . Alice Black Swamp Burbar Creek G b Coomba Lake Dudley (county) .
    [Show full text]
  • Fishing the Welcome to Our Islands
    FISHING THE WELCOME TO OUR ISLANDS The Tiwi Islands are made up of Melville and Bathurst Islands and numerous TIWI ISLANDS smaller, adjacent islands. The Vernon Islands also form part of the Tiwi estate. The Tiwi Traditional Owners and custodians of the area welcome you to our islands and ask that you respect and recognise the cultural importance of our land and waters. CODE OF Conduct RESPect THE RIGHts OF TRADITIONAL OWNERS. Tiwi artwork provided by Munupi Arts © remains with Munupi Arts and artist Robert Puruntatameri • Understand and observe all fishing regulations and no fishing zones. Report illegal fishing activities to the FISHWATCH hotline 1800 891 136 or the Tiwi Land Council HQ at Pickataramoor - 08 8970 9373. • Take no more fish than your immediate needs and carefully return excess or unwanted fish Fishwatch Hotline 1800 891 136 (report suspicious fishing activity) into the water unharmed. • Be courteous to all water users and those who belong to local Tiwi communities. • Respect Tiwi cultural ceremonies. This may mean that a particular area is temporarily closed to access. The information in this booklet does not replace the controls in the NT Fisheries legislation, • Do not land ashore without first obtaining a separate Aboriginal land permit, from the Tiwi but provides a summary of its general intent. Land Council and abide by alcohol restrictions for the area. For the most up to date recreational fishing regulations visit the Fisheries website at • Respect sacred sites and do not enter any part of the waters containing identified sacred www.fisheries.nt.gov.au or contact Fisheries on 08 89992144.
    [Show full text]
  • Clarence Strait, Australia
    Clarence Strait, Australia 1 / 4 2 / 4 Released date: Fri, 20/09/2019 - 12:00 Copyright: contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data (2019), processed by ESA, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO The Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission takes us over Clarence Strait, a narrow body of water in Australia’s Northern Territory. Click on the box in the lower-right corner to view this image at its full 10 m resolution directly in your browser. The strait ties the Beagle Gulf in the west with the Van Diemen Gulf to the east and separates Australia’s mainland from Melville Island, part of the Tiwi Islands. The southernmost tip of Melville is visible in the upper part of the image. The three islands in the southern part of the strait, are the Vernon Islands, which host navigation aids to assist vessels passing through the strait. Australia’s Northern Territory is a sparsely-populated region. With a population of around 140 000, Darwin is the territory’s capital and largest city, and is visible in grey in the centre of the image. In 1839, the HMS Beagle sailed into the waters of what is now known as Darwin Harbour. The harbour was named after the British evolutionist Charles Darwin, but, contrary to popular belief, Darwin himself never visited the area. With a strong Aboriginal culture, art and tropical summers, Darwin is a popular tourist destination. The Crocosaurus Cove in the heart of the city houses the world’s largest display of Australian reptiles. The waters that surround Darwin are riddled with saltwater crocodiles and deadly box jellyfish, which inhabit the waters from October to May.
    [Show full text]