Critical Wave Buoy to be Redeployed After Lightning Damage

South Australia's primary wave buoy, located off Cape du Couedic on Kangaroo Island, is set to be redeployed this week after a series of setbacks, including a recent lightning strike that caused significant electrical damage.

The Bureau of Meteorology's wave buoy has experienced three outages since August 2024, with the most recent one occurring on May 30 during stormy weather. According to a spokesperson, "Investigation of the damaged wave buoy showed severe electrical damage consistent with a lightning strike."

The buoy's troubles began in mid-2024 when it started transmitting erroneous data and was taken offline in September. A nine-month repair process followed, but its issues persisted. In November 2025, a mooring failure caused the buoy to break free and wash up on Kangaroo Island, resulting in another six-week outage.

The spokesperson stated that the current issue is distinct, and the bureau has "prioritised retrieving, assessing and reinstating the wave buoy, subject to weather conditions and safety requirements." The bureau plans to redeploy the buoy this week, pending suitable weather conditions, after procuring replacement parts.

When operational, the wave buoy provides real-time and historical data on wave heights, periods, and swell direction, which is crucial for commercial and recreational fishers, divers, and surfers. The buoy's data is particularly vital for abalone divers, who rely on it for their operations.

"The bureau spent $96.5 million on a website which did not meet the needs of Australians while basic weather infrastructure has been allowed to fail," said federal opposition spokesperson for the environment David Nouri. "This goes to priorities and competence. The bureau is already facing an independent review after the website debacle, while the auditor-general has found it was only partly effective at managing the assets in its observing network."

Nouri also questioned the bureau's priorities and demanded a permanent solution to the buoy's issues. The office of the federal Environment Minister has been contacted for comment but has directed inquiries back to the bureau.