January 2008

• New map of Australia
• Natural hazards in Australia

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New map of Australia

Geoscience Australia has revised its popular 1:5,000,000 scale map of Australia. Entitled Australia 1:5,000,000 General Reference Map: fifth edition, the map measures 1,000 mm x 860 mm and is ideal as a framed or unframed wall map. The folded version is also a handy reference map.

For the first time, the folded version of the map has been packaged in a plastic envelope and includes an attractive full colour sleeve with general information about Australia, making it an ideal memento of a visit to Australia for international visitors, or as a useful overview map for recreation or business.

Previous editions of the map were produced using traditional cartographic and printing processes, whereas this version is the first to be produced using fully digitised GIS data and printing techniques, derived from Geoscience Australia's 1:250,000 scale GEODATA that is also the base data for NATMAP 1:250,000 maps of Australia.

The new map no longer has relief shading, however it retains hypsometric tinting to show elevation across the continent. Offshore bathymetry complements this depiction of land elevation and was derived from our Australian Bathymetry and Topography Grid, 2005.

Australia 1:5,000,000 General Reference Map: fifth edition is available from authorised NATMAP retailers or from Geoscience Australia's Sales Centre on 02 6249 9966 or Freecall (within Australia) 1800 800173.

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Natural hazards in Australia

Australian communities have a long-standing relationship with natural disaster; hazards such as bushfires, floods, and even earthquakes have become a part of this country's history.

With the support of the Department of Transport and Regional Services (now part of Emergency Management Australia - EMA), Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO, Geoscience Australia (GA) has produced a report describing the historical impact of natural hazards on our country, highlighting the importance of risk analyses and identifying the roles played in managing these hazards.

"Natural Hazards in Australia will provide emergency managers and decision makers with the first simple, consistent and consolidated view of the issues related to undertaking a risk analysis for natural hazards in Australia," explains Miriam Middelmann, editor of the report.

"This report covers the impact on Australian communities from tropical cyclone, flood, severe storm, bushfire, landslide, earthquake and tsunami. Emphasis is placed on identifying risk analysis requirements for these hazards and the phenomena that they cause, with a particular focus on their likelihood and consequence," she said.

Natural Hazards in Australia was developed in response to a COAG report on managing natural disasters in Australia, which identified a need to establish a nationally consistent system of data collection, research and analysis, and develop and implement disaster risk assessments.

Download complete report [PDF 11.4MB]
Download report by hazard/chapter

Visit Natural Hazards Online.

A limited number of hard copies are available upon request from the Geoscience Australia Sales Centre.

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