CANBERRA, ACT, Sept. 5 -- Geoscience Australia issued the following news release:
Geoscience Australia have showcased their planned projects for the first 10 years (2024-2034) of the Resourcing Australia's Prosperity initiative in an online webinar, where the Minister for Resources and Minister for Northern Australia the Hon. Madeleine King MP announced the location of the third deep dive project in the Georgetown-Julia Creek region, Queensland.
The 35-year $3.4 billion investment by the Australian Government was established to accelerate the discovery and development of the resources needed to support Australia's net zero transition and resources management through 4 interrelated components.
Held on Tuesday 26 August 2025, the webinar went into detail about what to expect from the wide range of projects over the next 10 years and how they fit under the 4 components.
You can watch the recording of the webinar to learn more.
In summary, what you can expect in the first 10 years:
Component 1 - Australia-wide geoscience
By providing the building blocks to better understand what lies on and beneath the land surface and seabed, this work aims to improve the quality and completeness of national-scale information, to realise Australia's resource potential and accelerate the exploration, development and responsible management of natural resources.
Through this component :
* The value of existing offshore data will be maximised with national and regional-scale foundation seabed data products, with new insights on Australia's seabed being provided through:
* annually updated national (250 m) and regional (30 m) topography-bathymetry grids* seabed feature mapping and a national seabed map series (2029).* New insights on Australia's surface and subsurface will be delivered by leveraging existing coverages through:
* geochemistry, including a national compilation of industry geochemistry (2030)* geochronology and isotope datasets* updated gravity, magnetics and radiometrics grids.* Flagship geoscience datasets will continue to be rolled out, building towards national coverages by delivering:
* first national passive seismic models from AusARRAY (2027)* modernised Australian Fundamental Gravity Network (2032)* completed 20 km-spaced airborne electromagnetics (2034).* New geoscience understandings and interpretations will be delivered through the integration and modernisation of data and interpretations, including:
* thematic map layers to inform national resource assessments* updates to layered geology and provinces* a 3D stratigraphic model of sedimentary basins (2025)* a 3D geology map of Australia (2031).
Component 2 - National resource assessments
These assessments will evaluate the potential for critical minerals, (including rare earth elements), strategic materials, groundwater, natural hydrogen, geological storage of hydrogen and carbon dioxide, and suitability for offshore renewable energy infrastructure.
Through this component:
* A holistic, commodity-based view of the range of opportunities to deliver the critical mineral and strategic material resources required for Australia's future will be provided, and considerations of near-term opportunities and long-term potential will be integrated in national commodity prospectuses, including:
* Rare Earth Elements prospectus (2026).* Copper prospectus (2027).* Priority battery minerals prospectus (Cobalt, Nickel, Manganese, Phosphorite, Graphite, Vanadium, Lithium, Silicon).* Suitable underground storage opportunities will be identified, and our understanding of Australia's natural hydrogen potential will be improved through:
* a national hydrogen storage assessment (2027) focused on identified hydrogen hubs* targeted data acquisition* assessments for natural hydrogen prospectivity.* A modern and informed national picture of Australia's CO2 geological sequestration potential will be established, and paths to expediate implementation will be identified through:
* a national CO2 storage resource atlas (2028)* targeted regional assessments* datasets to constrain injectivity, capacity and seal integrity.* Governments, industry and communities will have enhanced access to information on Australia's national groundwater systems through:
* a detailed data synthesis as part of a National Hydrogeological Inventory* a national 3D groundwater map (2034)* spring sampling, to improve understanding of how they connect to the surface, with a campaign to be undertaken in Queensland in collaboration with CSIRO and state and territory government.* Decisions regarding offshore planning and management, essential to achieving the nation's net zero emissions targets, will be informed and underpinned through:
* foundational data products to map seabed geology and geomorphology* maps of key factors that inform suitability, including a national seabed stability map (2034).
Component 3 - Deep dives
Deep dives are detailed, multi-commodity assessments that aim to enhance understanding of resource prospectivity in selected onshore regions. By collecting and interpreting more data, and at finer scales, Geoscience Australia will reduce exploration and investment risks in areas with unrealised resource potential.
Through this component:
* Over 500 million years of geological history will be unravelled to better understand the resource potential in the Delamerian region, by completing work begun under the Exploring for the Future program and:
* delivering a geological framework and multi-commodity synthesis (2026)* unifying understanding of geology across disconnected belts.* New resource opportunities will be identified in a multi-commodity assessment of the Birrindudu region (a frontier cross-border region with high geological potential), through:
* a range of scientific studies* a Birrindudu airborne electromagnetic survey (2025)* groundwater sampling* surface geochemistry sampling* deep crustal seismic reflection survey* long-period magnetotellurics and passive seismic* stratigraphic drilling.* A holistic view of the Georgetown-Julia Creek region's untapped potential for critical mineral and groundwater resources will be identified by delivering:
* an improved geological framework (surface to lithosphere)* mapping of the region's hydrostratigraphy.
Component 4 - Delivery, awareness raising and engagement
Delivery, awareness raising and engagement will support stakeholders to realise the benefits of precompetitive geoscience data and information. We will foster collaborative relationships and deliver data, information, and tools to support improved decision-making by government, industry, and communities.
Through this component:
* Access to data, insights and tools will be improved by:
* delivering a new generation geoscience data delivery capability (2030)* maintaining and curating national geoscience databases* continually improving existing delivery infrastructure* adopting a user-centred approach.* A pathway for non-geoscientists to access regional geology and resource insights will be provided, built on the foundations of the GeoInsight platform.* We will establish strong, lasting relationships with First Nations Australians through collaborative opportunities and supporting self-determination. Through this we commit to meaningful consultation, partnership development and respectful collaboration with First Nations communities by:
* establishing a First Nations Advisory Group (2025)* deepening and diversifying engagement and partnerships* collaborating to develop data and information in ways that are meaningful.
These 4 components reflect that to unlock Australia's resources potential a cross-disciplinary and multiscale approach, with a mix of new data collection, analysis and deep stakeholder engagement is required. Australia has a unique opportunity to position itself as a major provider of the resources, energy and technology that the world will need as it moves to a clean energy future.
Together through government precompetitive geoscience Australia will seize the economic benefits, deliver well-paid jobs and secure a Future Made in Australia.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
