ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION (SEA DUMPING) ACT 1981 MATTERS TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE FOR THE PERIOD: 1 October 2025 to 31 December 2025
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 (SD2025-4084) was received on 2 October 2025 from Port of Newcastle Operations Pty Ltd, Level 4, 251 Wharf Road, Newcastle New South Wales 2300 (ABN: 97 539 122 070), for a 2-year permit to load for the purposes of dumping, and to dump up to 2,600 cubic metres (in-situ) of dredged material derived from the capital dredging of Mayfield Berth 4 East at the Port of Newcastle, New South Wales.
- An application for a permit (SD2025-4085) was received on 3 October 2025 from Woodside Energy Ltd, 11 Mount Street, Perth, Western Australia 6000 (ACN: 005 482 986) for the dumping (abandonment in-situ) of 6 disconnectable turret mooring anchors and associated remnant anchor chains in petroleum title WA-49-L. Located offshore approximately 169 kilometres northwest of Dampier, Western Australia.
- An application for a permit (SD2025-4086) was received on 20 November 2025 from Pilbara Iron Pty Ltd, Level 22, Central Park, 152 – 158 St Georges Terrace, Perth, Western Australia 6000
(ACN: 107 216 535), for a 10-year permit to load for the purposes of dumping, and to dump up to 630,000 cubic metres (in-situ) of dredged material derived from the maintenance dredging of Pilbara Iron’s managed port areas at the Port of Dampier, Western Australia. - An application for a permit (SD2025-4087) was received on 16 December 2025 from the Department of Defence, Russell Offices, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2600 (ABN: 68 706 814 312), to dump the former hydrographic survey vessel, the HMAS Melville offshore southeast of Jervis Bay, New South Wales.
- An application for a permit (SD2025-4088) was received on 22 December 2025 from Townsville City Council, PO Box 1268, Townsville, Queensland 4810 (ABN: 44 741 992 072), for a 10-year permit to load for the purposes of dumping, and to dump up to 30,000 cubic metres of dredged material derived from the maintenance dredging of the Townsville City Council managed port areas at Nelly Bay, Queensland (bridge and marina areas, and Gustav Creek).
Permits granted under sections 19 and 21 of the Act
- A permit (SD2025-4081) was granted on 1 December 2025 to EGS Survey Pty Ltd, 44 Market Street, Sydney, New South Wales 2000 (ABN: 84 112 943 718) for the dumping (abandonment in situ) of 2 mooring clump weights, offshore approximately 38 kilometres West Northwest of Thursday Island, Torres Strait, Queensland. This permit is valid until 1 December 2026.
- A permit (SD2024-4074) was granted on 18 December 2025 to Mardie Minerals Pty Ltd, Level 2, 1 Altona Street, West Perth, Western Australia 6005 (ACN: 152 574 457) to load for the purposes of dumping, and to dump up to 355,000 cubic metres (in-situ) of capital dredged material derived from the Optimised Mardie Project, approximately 80 kilometres south-west of Karratha, in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. This permit is valid until 31 October 2028.
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 (SD2024-4071) was received on 15 September 2025 from John Holland Pty Ltd, 796 Hunter Street, Newcastle West, New South Wales 2304 (ACN: 004 282 268). The variation sought to increase the capital dredge volume and incorporate additional, contingency dredge methods in the event that rocks, or compacted sediment layers are encountered. Located at the Belmont Desalination Plant, Belmont, New South Wales.
- An application for a variation to a permit (SD2022-4020) was received on 9 October 2025 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 extend the time in which placement of the South Thevenard Artificial Reef must be completed. Located offshore approximately 20 kilometres north-west of Onslow, Western Australia.
- An application for a variation to a permit (SD2022-4021) was received on 9 October 2025 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 extend the time in which placement of the Onslow Artificial Reef must be completed. Located offshore approximately 19.5 kilometres west of Onslow, Western Australia.
- An application for a variation to a permit (SD2018-3942) was received on 15 October 2025 from Port of Townsville Limited, Engineering Building, Benwell Road, Townsville, Queensland 4810
(ACN: 130 077 673). The variation sought to extend the permit period by 7 months. Located at the Port of Townsville, Queensland. - An application for a variation to a permit (SD2023-4058) was received on 1 December 2025 from 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 sought to extend the permit period by up to 19 months so that it is valid until 30 September 2027. Located at the Overseas Passenger Terminal Berthing Infrastructure Project at Circular Quay, Sydney, New South Wales.
Permit variations granted under sections 21 and 23 of the Act
- A variation (No. 1) to a permit (SD2024-4071) was granted on 13 November 2025 to John Holland Pty Ltd, 796 Hunter Street, Newcastle West, New South Wales 2304 (ACN: 004 282 268) to increase the capital dredge volume and incorporate additional, contingency dredge methods in the event that rocks or compacted sediment layers are encountered. Located at the Belmont Desalination Plant, Belmont, New South Wales. This permit is valid until 15 April 2030.
- A variation (No. 4) to a permit (SD2018-3942) was granted on 14 November 2025 to the Port of Townsville Limited, Engineering Building, Benwell Road, Townsville, Queensland 4810
(ACN: 130 077 673) to extend the permit period by 7 months. Located at the Port of Townsville, Queensland. This permit is valid until 31 December 2026. - A variation (No. 2) to a permit (SD2022-4020) was granted on 4 December 2025 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 extended the time in which placement of the South Thevenard Artificial Reef must be completed. The permit is for placement of the South Thevenard Artificial Reef, consisting of 3 repurposed steel monopod platform sections, and 40 purpose-built concrete modules, located offshore approximately 20 kilometres north-west of Onslow, Western Australia. This permit is valid until 30 April 2055.
- A variation (No. 2) to a permit (SD2022-4021) was granted on 4 December 2025 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 extended the time in which placement of the Onslow Artificial Reef must be completed. The permit is for the placement of the Onslow Artificial Reef, consisting of 6 repurposed steel monopod platform sections, and 80 purpose-built concrete modules, located offshore approximately 19.5 kilometres west of Onslow, Western Australia. This permit is valid until 30 April 2055.
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
14 January 2026