Pursuant to section 25 of the Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Act 1981 (the Act), notice is given that:
Applications for permits received under section 18 of the Act
- An application (SD2023-4050) was received on 16 October 2023 from Maritime Border Command (Department of Home Affairs), Level 4, 3 Molonglo Drive, Canberra Airport, Australian Capital Territory 2609 (ABN: 33 380 054 835) and the Australian Fisheries Management Authority, Level 3, 15 Lancaster Place, Majura Park, Australian Capital Territory 2609 (ABN: 81 098 497 517), for a 5-year permit to load for the purposes of dumping, and to dump up to 300 apprehended vessels in northern Australian waters.
- An application (SD2023-4057) was received on 22 November 2023 from Esso Australia Pty Ltd, Level 9, 664 Collins Street, Docklands, Victoria 3008 (ABN: 49 000 018 566) for a permit for abandonment in-situ of 8 steel pile jackets at multiple locations in the Bass Strait, Victoria.
- An application (SD2023-4059) was received on 4 December 2023 from Winchelsea Mining Pty Ltd, Pole 12, Rowell Hwy, Alyangula, Northern Territory, 0885 (ACN: 626 747 037), for 3-year permit to load for the purposes of dumping, and to dump up to 150,000 cubic metres (in-situ) of capital dredged material derived from the construction of a wharf off the south-west coastline of Winchelsea Island, Northern Territory.
- An application (SD2023-4060) was received on 12 December 2023 from McCartney Family Funerals Pty Ltd, 2D/130 Kingston Road, Underwood, Queensland 4119 (ACN: 655 724 717), for a burial at sea located offshore of Cape Moreton, Queensland.
Permits granted under sections 19 and 21 of the Act
- A permit (SD2022-4039) was granted on 24 October 2023 to the Gippsland Ports Committee of Management Incorporated, 97 Main Street, Bairnsdale, Victoria 3875 (ABN: 98 943 634 870), to load for the purposes of dumping, and to dump up to 4,910,000 cubic metres of dredged material (in-situ), derived from maintenance dredging of the Bar, Entrance Channel, Narrows, Swing Basin, Cunninghame Arm, North Arm and Hopetoun Channel and up to 90,000 cubic metres derived from capital dredging of the Swing Basin, Cunningham Arm, North Arm and Hopetoun Channel at the Port of Gippsland Lakes, Lakes Entrance, Victoria. This permit is valid until 24 October 2033.
- A permit (SD2023-4056) was granted on 13 December 2023 to Cairns Regional Council,
119‐145 Spence St, Cairns City, Queensland 4870 (ABN: 24 310 025 910), for a 10-year permit to load for the purposes of dumping, and to dump up to 1,260,000 cubic metres (in-situ) of dredged material derived from maintenance dredging of the Half Moon Bay Channels, Half Moon Creek, Half Moon Bay Marina, Bluewater Harbour, Bluewater Marina and the Yorkey’s Knob Public Boat Ramp at Half Moon Bay, Cairns, Queensland. This permit is valid until 31 December 2033. - A permit (SD2023-4060) was granted on 15 December 2023 to McCartney Family Funerals Pty Ltd, 2D/130 Kingston Road, Underwood, Queensland 4119 (ACN: 655 724 717), for a burial at sea located offshore of Cape Moreton, Queensland. This permit is valid until 12 January 2024.
- A permit (SD2023-4051) was granted on 21 December 2023 to Gladstone Ports Corporation Limited, 40 Goondoon Street, Gladstone, Queensland 4680 (ACN: 131 965 896) for a 10-year permit to load for the purposes of dumping, and to dump up to 2,920,000 cubic metres (in-situ) of dredged material derived from maintenance dredging at the Port of Gladstone, Queensland. This permit is valid until 1 January 2034.
- A permit (SD2023-4058) was granted on 22 December 2023 to Reef Catchments (Mackay Whitsundays Isaac) limited, 1/85 Gordon Street, Mackay, Queensland 4740 (ACN: 147 167 502) and Mackay Regional Council, 73 Gordon Street, Mackay, Queensland 4740 (ABN: 56 240 712 069), for the placement of an artificial reef comprising of 30 purpose-built modules, 5 kilometres offshore Mackay, Queensland. The permit is valid until 30 November 2055.
Applications received for permit variations under section 23 of the Act
- An application for a variation to a permit (SD2021-4008) was received on 13 October 2023 from Pilbara Ports Authority, Level 5, 999 Hay Street, Perth, Western Australia, 6000 (ABN: 94 987 448 870). The variation sought to extend the approved maintenance dredging footprint at the Port of Ashburton, Western Australia. The extension proposed to encompass Mineral Resources Limited’s newly dredged berth pocket, approved under a separate permit (SD2022-4018), into the Port’s approved maintenance dredging footprint.
- An application for a variation (No. 4) to a permit (SD2012-2243) was received on 15 November 2023 from Maritime Border Command (Department of Home Affairs), Level 4, 3 Molonglo Drive, Canberra Airport, Australian Capital Territory 2609 (ABN: 33 380 054 835) and the Australian Fisheries Management Authority, Level 3, 15 Lancaster Place, Majura Park, Australian Capital Territory 2609 (ABN: 81 098 497 517. The variation sought to increase the number of wooden vessel disposals from 115 to 165.
- An application for a variation to a permit (SD2020-3997) was received on 21 November 2023 from WA Recreational and Sportfishing Council (Inc.) trading as Recfishwest, Suite 3, 45 Northside Drive, Hillarys, Western Australia, 6025 (ABN: 77 922 817 608) and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, 1 Nash Street, Perth, Western Australia, 6000 (ABN: 18 951 343 745). The variation sought to decrease the number of repurposed steel sections to be placed as part of the Saladin Integrated Artificial Reef from 12 to 2 sections.
- An application for a variation to a permit (SD2022-4020) was received on 21 November 2023 from WA Recreational and Sportfishing Council (Inc.) trading as Recfishwest, Suite 3, 45 Northside Drive, Hillarys, Western Australia, 6025 (ABN: 77 922 817 608) and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, 1 Nash Street, Perth, Western Australia, 6000 (ABN: 18 951 343 745). The variation sought to decrease the number of repurposed steel sections to be placed as part of the South Thevenard Artificial Reef from 7 to 3 sections.
- An application for a variation to a permit (SD2022-4021) was received on 21 November 2023 from WA Recreational and Sportfishing Council (Inc.) trading as Recfishwest, Suite 3, 45 Northside Drive, Hillarys, Western Australia, 6025 (ABN: 77 922 817 608) and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, 1 Nash Street, Perth, Western Australia, 6000 (ABN: 18 951 343 745). The variation sought to decrease the number of repurposed steel sections to be placed as part of the Onslow Artificial Reef from 14 to 6 sections.
Permit variations granted under sections 21 and 23 of the Act
- A variation (No. 2) to a permit (SD2018-3842) was granted on 10 October 2023 to Cairns Regional Council, 119‐145 Spence St, Cairns City, Queensland 4870 (ABN: 24 310 025 910). The variation extended the existing permit expiry timeframe by 6 months from 30 October 2023 to 30 April 2024, to load for the purposes of dumping, and to dump up to 246,264 cubic metres of dredged material (in-situ; remaining from the original total of 667,000 cubic metres), derived from maintenance dredging of the Half Moon Bay Entrance Channels, Bluewater Harbour, Half Moon Creek and Half Moon Bay Marina at Cairns, Queensland. This permit is valid until 30 April 2024.
- A variation (No. 2) to a permit (SD2013-2442) was granted on 13 October 2023 to the Gippsland Ports Committee of Management Incorporated, 97 Main Street, Bairnsdale, Victoria 3875 (ABN: 98 943 634 870). The variation extended the existing permit timeframe by 9 days from 15 October to 24 October 2023, to load for the purposes of dumping, and to dump up to 5,201,233 cubic metres of dredged material (in-situ; remaining from the original total of 7,500,000 cubic metres), derived from maintenance dredging of the Bar, the Swing Basin, the Entrance Channel, the re-alignment of Reeves Channel and Cunninghame Arm at the Port of Gippsland Lakes, Lakes Entrance, Victoria. This permit is valid until 24 October 2023.
- A variation (No. 4) to a permit (SD2012-2243) was granted on 29 November 2023 to Maritime Border Command (Department of Home Affairs) Level 4, 3 Molonglo Drive, Canberra Airport, Australian Capital Territory 2609 (ABN: 33 380 054 835) and the Australian Fisheries Management Authority, Level 3, 15 Lancaster Place, Majura Park, Australian Capital Territory 2609 (ABN: 81 098 497 517). The variation increased the number of wooden vessel disposals from 115 to 165. This permit is valid until 8 March 2024.
- A variation (No. 1) to a permit (SD2021-4008) was granted on 6 December 2023 to Pilbara Ports Authority, Level 5, 999 Hay Street, Perth, Western Australia, 6000 (ABN: 94 987 448 870) to alter the maintenance dredging footprint to encompass Mineral Resources Limited’s newly dredged berth pocket, approved under a separate permit (SD2022-4018). The permit is to load for the purposes of dumping, and to dump up to 1,965,115 cubic metres of dredged material (in-situ; remaining from the original total of 2 million cubic metres), derived from maintenance dredging of the developed shipping channels, swing basins and berth pockets that provide access to the Wheatstone Marine Terminal and Ashburton Cargo Wharf at the Port of Ashburton, Western Australia. This permit is valid until 22 March 2027.
- A variation (No. 1) to a permit (SD2022-4022) was granted on 14 December 2023 to the WA Recreational and Sportfishing Council (Inc.) trading as Recfishwest, Suite 3, 45 Northside Drive, Hillarys, Western Australia, 6025 (ABN: 77 922 817 608) and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, 1 Nash Street, Perth, Western Australia, 6000 (ABN: 18 951 343 745). The variation specifies the monitoring and management plan that must be implemented. The permit is for the placement of the Carnarvon Artificial Reef, comprising of 700 purpose-built concrete modules, offshore approximately 7 kilometres west south-west of Pelican Point, Carnarvon, Western Australia. This permit is valid until 30 August 2055.
The Minister/delegate did not require the permits to undergo an assessment in accordance with section 160 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).
Copies of a decision by the Minister/delegate under the Act may be obtained, upon request, from the Director, Sea Dumping Section, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, GPO Box 3090, CANBERRA, ACT 2601.
Heather Agnew
Director
Sea Dumping Section
7 February 2024