A tide gauge at Cape Ferguson, near Townsville - part of the national baseline tide gauge network (see inset map).

In October the Bureau commenced operating the new National Tidal Centre (NTC), after Flinders University in South Australia decided to cease operating the National Tidal Facility Australia (NTFA). Establishing the NTC within the Bureau's South Australia Region has been a major undertaking, and a significant new activity for the Bureau's emerging Oceanographic Services output. Integrating the new Centre into Bureau operations will remain a priority over the coming year. The NTC continues the 'public good' functions of the NTFA, providing sea level expertise and scientific advice for the public, maritime industry and specialist users. It will function as the national centre of excellence for sea level gauge deployment, and for sea level and tidal data quality control and management. It will support tsunami detection for the Australian Tsunami Alert System operated by the Bureau, Geoscience Australia and Emergency Management Australia, and will continue contracts for routine prediction of tides at major ports and locations around the Australian coast. The centre will also operate, and manage, the data from Australia's sea level gauge network and make this expertise available, on a contract basis, to some South Pacific island countries.