ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION (SEA DUMPING) ACT 1981 MATTERS TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE FOR THE PERIOD: 1 January 2026 to 31 March 2026
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 for a permit (SD2026-4089) was received on 29 January 2026 from Pacific Tug Australia Pty Ltd, 8/119 Colburn Ave Victoria Point, Queensland 4165 (ACN: 630 704 684) for a 5-year permit to load for the purposes of dumping, and to dump up 300,000 cubic metres (in-situ) of dredged material derived from the capital and maintenance dredging of the Marine Industry Site located at the Port of Bundaberg, Queensland.
Permits granted under sections 19 and 21 of the Act
- A permit (SD2025-4075) was granted on 12 February 2026 to RTA Weipa Pty Ltd, 155 Charlotte St, Brisbane, Queensland 4000 (ACN: 137 266 285), to load for the purposes of dumping, and to dump up to 3.2 million cubic metres (in-situ) of dredged material derived from the capital dredging of the berth pocket and departure channel at the Amrun Port Facility at Weipa, Queensland. This permit is valid until 30 November 2029.
- A permit (SD2025-4087) was granted on 20 March 2026 to the Department of Defence, Russell Offices, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2600 (ABN: 68 706 814 312), for the dumping of the former hydrographic survey vessel, the HMAS Melville, offshore in Commonwealth waters southeast of Jervis Bay, New South Wales. This permit is valid until 30 September 2026.
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).
Applications received for permit variations under section 23 of the Act
- An application for a variation to a permit (SD2016-3462) was received on 18 February 2026 from Pilbara Iron Pty Ltd, Level 22 Central Park, 152-158 Georges Terrace, Perth, Western Australia 6000 (ACN: 107 216 535). The variation sought to extend the permit period by 3 months. Located at the Port of Dampier, Western Australia.
Permit variations granted under sections 21 and 23 of the Act
- A variation (No. 1) to a permit (SD2023-4058) was granted on 20 January 2026 to Newcastle Port Corporation trading as Port Authority of NSW, PO Box 25, Millers Point, New South Wales 2000 (ABN: 50 825 884 846). The variation extended the permit period by 19 months from 28 February 2026 to 30 September 2027. The permit is for the loading for the purposes of dumping, and to dump up to 18,100 cubic metres of material derived from the Overseas Passenger Terminal Bert at Circular Quay, Sydney, New South Wales. The permit is valid until 30 September 2027.
- A variation (No. 3) to a permit (SD2016-3462) was granted on 26 February 2026 to Pilbara Iron Pty Ltd, Level 22 Central Park, 152-158 Georges Terrace, Perth, Western Australia 6000 (ACN: 107 216 535). The variation extended the permit period by 3 months from 28 February 2026 to 31 May 2026. The permit is for the loading for the purposes of dumping, and to dump up to 1,113,116 cubic metres of dredged material (in-situ; remaining from the original total of 1,225,000 cubic metres), derived from the maintenance dredging of areas within the berths, swing basins and departure channels associated with the East Intercourse Island and Parker Point port facilities at the Port of Dampier in Dampier, Western Australia. This permit is valid until 31 May 2026.
The Minister/delegate did not require the variations to 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
1 April 2026