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 (SD2023-4058) was received on 4 December 2023* from Newcastle Port Corporation (trading as the Port Authority of New South Wales), PO Box 25, Millers Point, New South Wales 2000 (ABN: 50 825 884 846), to load for the purposes of dumping, and to dump up to 18,100 cubic metres (in-situ) of capital dredged material, derived from the Overseas Passenger Terminal Berthing Infrastructure Project in Sydney, New South Wales. This application replaces application SD2020-4001, received by the department on 18 November 2020, which was withdrawn on 28 November 2023.
* This notice was inadvertently omitted from the previous gazette notice for the period 1 October 2023 to 31 December 2023.
- An application (SD2023-4061) was received on 14 February 2024 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) for the placement of an artificial reef for recreational fishing purposes. The reef comprises 420 purpose-built concrete modules, located offshore approximately 40 kilometres north-west of Port Hedland, Western Australia. This application replaces application SD2023-4049, received by the department on 29 March 2023, which was withdrawn on 8 August 2023.
Permits granted under sections 19 and 21 of the Act
- A permit (SD2022-4030) was granted on 8 February 2024 to Woodside Energy Scarborough Pty Ltd (ACN: 650 177 227), Mia Yellagonga, Karlak, 11 Mount Street, Perth, Western Australia 6000, for the dumping (abandonment in-situ) of the Thebe-1 exploration wellhead, within petroleum title WA-63-R approximately 280 kilometres north-west of Barrow Island off the Pilbara coast of Western Australia. This permit is valid until 28 February 2025.
- A permit (SD2023-4050) was granted on 27 February 2024 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), for a 5-year permit to load for the purposes of dumping, and to dump up to 350 apprehended vessels at up to 19 disposal sites across northern Australian waters. This permit is valid until 8 March 2029.
- A permit (SD2023-4058) was granted on 28 February 2024 to Newcastle Port Corporation (trading as the Port Authority of New South Wales), PO Box 25, Millers Point, New South Wales 2000
(ABN: 50 825 884 846), to load for the purposes of dumping, and to dump up to 18,100 cubic metres (in-situ) of capital dredged material, derived from the Overseas Passenger Terminal Berthing Infrastructure Project in Sydney, New South Wales. This permit is valid until 28 February 2026. - A permit (SD2022-4043) was granted on 25 March 2024 to Fremantle Port Authority, 1 Cliff St, Fremantle, Western Australia 6160 (ABN: 78 187 229 472), to load for the purposes of dumping, and to dump, up to 80,000 cubic metres (in-situ) of dredged material derived from maintenance dredging at the Port of Fremantle, Western Australia. This permit is valid for 5-years until 31 March 2029.
Permit variations granted under sections 21 and 23 of the Act
- A variation (No.1) to a permit (SD2020-3997) was granted on 19 January 2024 to 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 decreased the number of repurposed steel sections to be placed as part of the Saladin Integrated Artificial Reef from 12 to 2 sections. This permit is valid until 31 December 2051.
- A variation (No.1) to a permit (SD2020-4020) was granted on 19 January 2024 to 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 decreased the number of repurposed steel sections to be placed as part of the South Thevenard Artificial Reef from 7 to 3 sections. This permit is valid until 30 April 2055.
- A variation (No.1) to a permit (SD2022-4021) was granted on 19 January 2024 to 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 decreased the number of repurposed steel sections to be placed as part of the Onslow Artificial Reef from 14 to 6 sections. This permit is valid until 30 April 2055.
Permits revoked under Section 20(1)(b) of the Act
- A permit (SD2012-2243) granted 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) was revoked on 27 February 2024. The permit was granted on 8 March 2017 and then varied on 23 December 2021, 15 December 2022, 7 September 2023, and 30 November 2023, to load for the purpose of dumping, and to dump, up to 165 wooden vessels in northern Australian waters until 8 March 2024.
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
10 April 2024