Shoalwater Bay Training Area

SWBTA has a land area of 170,000 hectares or 1000 square miles and is managed by the Australian Army. As the marine sections are included in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, military use of these areas is carried out in consultation with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and the Queensland Department of Environment. The land parts of SWBTA are managed by the Army's Base Administration Support Centre in Rockhampton. Rockhampton is a city of 60,000 people located on the Fitzroy River about 30 miles south west of SWBTA. Shoalwater Bay has been recognized as an area of outstanding environmental value. The Army uses and manages the area to ensure these values are not degraded.