Keep clear of SAF exercise and live-firing areas. If you reach a restricted-area sign, gate or cordon on a walk or cycle, stop and return to a clearly public route. Check the latest MINDEF advisory when planning an outing near a training area, and follow the signs and instructions you encounter on site. MINDEF events and public advisories Example of a MINDEF live-firing advisory
If you come across an object you think could be ammunition or an explosive, leave it untouched, move away and call 999 from a safe location away from the object. Tell Police where it is and what you saw without returning to inspect it. SPF guidance on suspected explosives
- Check the latest dated MINDEF notice before an outing near a training area.
- Treat on-site restrictions as a stopping point and use a public route.
- Move away and call 999 from a safe location if you suspect an explosive.
On this page
- Read the advisory for the right place and dates
- Keep to a confirmed public route
- Report a suspected explosive from safety
- Frequently asked questions
Read the advisory for the right place and dates
MINDEF’s public notices describe exercise periods and the places affected. Read the notice date and the dates in the body before relying on it. Look for the exact area name and whether the instruction applies to land, surrounding waters or both. A neighbourhood listed for a military exercise and a gazetted live-firing area carry different instructions, so use the wording for the location in question. MINDEF events and public advisories Example of a MINDEF live-firing advisory
Give the notice and the sign different jobs
The notice helps you plan. The sign or barrier tells you what to do at the boundary. When a gate or path is marked restricted, keep clear even if you hear nothing or a dated exercise notice has ended. MINDEF states that unauthorised entry into gazetted firing grounds and SAF restricted areas is an offence. Example of a MINDEF live-firing advisory
Keep to a confirmed public route
Before a walk or ride, choose a public starting point, a route and a place to turn back. A line in a map app may represent a path on the ground without telling you whether the public may use it. If a route points towards a military warning sign or barrier, use the route you already know is public. Teach children and teenagers to stop at the sign and call the supervising adult from a safe place.
If you are on the water, read the current MINDEF notice and follow applicable navigation instructions. An advisory can specify restrictions for waters around an island or a firing area. If you are travelling with an operator, ask which route they will follow and what will happen if the planned route changes. MINDEF events and public advisories Example of a MINDEF live-firing advisory
Report a suspected explosive from safety
Leave the object where it is, move away and call 999 from a safe location. Start with the closest named public landmark, access point or path junction and give the object’s approximate position relative to it. Tell Police the shape or colour you observed only if you already know it. Keep others clear from a safe position and follow responders’ directions. SPF guidance on suspected explosives
A student outing example
A cycling group sees a military warning sign beyond a junction where the route app suggests turning. The leader stops the group at the public junction, counts everyone and goes back along the confirmed route. If someone had seen a suspected explosive, the leader would first move the group away, then call Police with the landmark and location. The group has enough information to act without crossing the boundary.
Frequently asked questions
I heard loud noises near a training area. What should I check?
Look for the current MINDEF advisory covering your location and time. Notices may explain that loud sounds are expected. If you see an immediate danger or a suspected explosive, report the facts to Police from safety. MINDEF events and public advisories Example of a MINDEF live-firing advisory SPF guidance on suspected explosives
Does the end of an exercise open a restricted area?
Follow the boundary signs and restrictions that apply at the site. MINDEF’s dated advisory describes training activity and separately warns against entry into gazetted or restricted areas. Example of a MINDEF live-firing advisory
Who does what?
MINDEF and the SAF publish training advisories and communicate restrictions. Police are the public emergency contact for a suspected explosive. For immediate danger, move away and call from safety. MINDEF events and public advisories SPF guidance on suspected explosives
Official sources
- MINDEF events and public advisories
- Example of a MINDEF live-firing advisory
- SPF guidance on suspected explosives