The Department of Fire and Emergency Services has installed seismic stations at Lake Muir in the South West of Western Australia.
The project, completed in cooperation with the Australian National University, Geological Survey of Western Australia, Macquarie University and Geoscience Australia, is expected to provide a greater understanding of earthquakes.
Deputy Commissioner for Strategy and Emergency Management at the Department, Mal Cronstedt said the stations would improve data, monitoring and analysis of seismic activity.
“Under a research project launched in 2019, 15 recording stations have been installed in locations including Manjimup, Walpole and Darradup,” Mr Cronstedt said.
“There will be a total of 25 stations installed by the end of October.
“Enhanced monitoring is an important part of understanding earthquakes, but these installations should also serve as a reminder for the community to be prepared.”
The Deputy Commissioner said Western Australia was one of the most seismically active areas in Australia.
“We generally anticipate a magnitude five earthquake in the South West every 10 years,” he said.
“Earthquakes can happen anywhere, at any time, and have the potential to cause major damage and loss of life — so it’s crucial to be prepared.”
He said that on 16 September 2018, a magnitude 5.7 earthquake was recorded near Lake Muir, south-east of Manjimup, and the tremors were felt across the South West and Perth metropolitan area.
That earthquake resulted in a three kilometre-long surface rupture near the epicentre, Mr Cronstedt said.
