QUESTIONS ON NOTICE › Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area (Question No. 2122)
Senator Conroy: The Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question: (1) (a) The total quantity of dredging that has been approved, or applied for, within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area from 16 July 2000 to 10 September 2012 is 165,010,500m3. (1) (b) Dredging approved under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act1999 in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. EPBC # Location Total Volume (m3) Approval Timeframe Maintenance Capital 2006/2602 Bowen 500,000 1/07/2027 0 500,000 2008/4058 Gladstone 50,000 31/10/2060 0 50,000 2008/4096 Gladstone (a) 31/10/2060 0 (a) 2008/4401 Gladstone 1,375,000 31/10/2060 0 1,375,000 2008/4497 Townsville 2,831,000 15/05/2060 1,880,000 951,000 2009/4759 Hay Point 275,000 3/03/2015 0 275,000 2009/4904 Gladstone 46,000,000 22/10/2030 0 46,000,000 2009/4977 Gladstone 900,000 22/02/2061 0 900,000 2011/5863 Townsville 1,303,000 30/11/2016 0 1,303,000 Total 53,234,000 (a) To be approved upon submission of a Dredge Management Plan (DMP). The DMP will be submitted if pipeline construction involves dredging Dredging approved under the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park since 1 January 2000. Ref Year Location Total Volume (m3) Maintenance or capital dredging G11/34029.1 2011 Hay Point 650,000 Maintenance G10/33583.1 2010 Nelly Bay, Magnetic Island 1,500 Maintenance G09/31615.1 2009 Port Douglas 40,000 Maintenance G07/19979.1 2007 Palm Island 25,000 Maintenance G06/18532.1 2006 Port Douglas 50,000 Maintenance G0513306.1 2005 Hay Point 14,000,000 Maintenance and Capital G04/12082.1 2004 Laguna Marina (Repulse Bay) 150,000 Maintenance Total 14,916,500 Proposals involving dredging in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area being assessed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 EPBC # Location Total Volume (m3) Timeframe nominated in referral Maintenance Capital 2004/1775 Port of Hay 14,000,000 2006 5,000,000 9,000,000 2006/2939 Shute Harbor Not defined (b) Not stated - - 2008/4060 Gladstone Not defined (b) 2010 - - 2008/4406 Gladstone 11,300,000 2010 - 11,300,000 2008/4468 Abbot Point 100,000 2014 - 100,000 2009/4837 Abbot Point 38,000,000 (a) 2012 - 38,000,000 2009/5158 Balaclava Is Not defined (b) 2012 - - 2010/5521 Great Keppel Island Not defined (b) 2012 - - 2011/5979 Townsville 12,900,000 2035 - 12,900,000 2011/6069 Port Alma Not defined (b) 2016 - - 2011/6092 Princess Charlotte Bay Not defined (b) 2014 - - 2011/6213 Abbot Point 3,000,000 2014 - 3,000,000 2012/6240 Dudgeon Point 13,000,000 2017 - 13,000,000 2012/6250 Abbot Point Not defined (b) 2014 - - 2012/6348 Gladstone 4,560,000 - 4,560,000 Total 96,860,000 (a) Project may be withdrawn; (a) Project may be withdrawn; (b) Referral documentation indicated that dredging is a component of the proposed action, however a dredge volume was not defined. Volumes will be specified by the proponent in subsequent assessment documentation such as draft Environment Impact Statements. (2) (a) The total quantity of dredge spoil that has been approved or applied for to be dumped offshore within the GBRWHA since 16 July 2000 is 55,552,380m3. (2) (b) Approvals and applications for disposal of material under the Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Act 1981 in the GBRWHA since 16 July 2000. Development Location Volume (m3) Permit issue date Permit duration Maintenance Y/N/U Gladstone Port Authority maintenance dredging Gladstone 250,000 25.7.2000 1 year Y Breakwater Island Limited Townsville 40,000 16.10.2000 15.10.2001 N Townsville Port Authority Townsville 3,500,000 23.2.2001 22.2.2006 Unknown Ports Corporation of Queensland Hay Point 1,700,000 6.5.2001 30.09.2002 Unknown Mackay Port Authority Mackay 50,000 21.5.2001 20.05.2002 Unknown Babcock and Brown Investment Services Mackay 1,700,000 12.12.2001 30.09.2002 Unknown Gladstone Port Authority Gladstone 1,000,000 8.7.2002 7.7.2007 Unknown Mackay Port Authority Mackay 250,000 26.3.2002 25.3.2007 Unknown Townsville Port Authority Townsville 236,380 12.12.2002 11.12.2003 Unknown Gladstone Port Authority Gladstone 20,000 21.3.2003 20.9.2003 Unknown Mackay Port Authority Mackay 250,000 27.8.2004 26.8.2009 Unknown Ports Corporation of Queensland Hay Point 400,000 8.9.2004 15.10.2006 Unknown Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal Berths Hay Point 310,000 7.9.2005 5 years N Port of Townsville maintenance dredging Townsville 2,750,000 9.10.2007 5 years Y Port of Gladstone maintenance dredging Gladstone 1,000,000 7.11.2007 5 years Y Port of Mackay maintenance dredging Mackay 580,000 25.1.2012 10 years Y Port of Gladstone capital dredging Gladstone 11,000,000 22.10.2012 5 years N Port of Gladstone Clinton bypass channel Gladstone 65,000 6.12.2012 2 years N Port of Townsville Berths 8 and 10A Townsville 96,000 14.6.2011 5 years N Port of Townsville Berth 12 Townsville 1,303,000 30.11.2011 5 years N Port of Townsville Platypus and Sea Channels Townsville 548,000 29.09.2011 5 years N Port of Townsville maintenance dredging Townsville 3,480,000 N/A – application only 5 years applied for Y Total 30,528,380 Approvals and applications approved under the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 for disposal of material in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park since, 1 January 2000. Ref Year Location Permitted Volume (m3) Type (maintenance or capital) G12/34915.1 - SD12/02 2012 Half Tide Boat Ramp (Hay Point) 17,000 Maintenance G12/34466.1 - SD12/01 2012 Rosslyn Bay Boat Harbour 86,000 Maintenance G11/34029.1 2011 Hay Point 650,000 Maintenance G10/33155.1 -SD2010/03 2010 Cairns Port 6,600,000 Maintenance G10/16868.1 - SD2010/02 2010 Hay Point 185,000 Capital G08/25493.1 2008 Abbot Point 295,000 Capital G06/177331 2006 Rosslyn Bay 80,000 Maintenance G05/13116.1 2005 Cairns Port 2,100,000 Maintenance G0513306.1 2005 Hay Point 14,000,000 Maintenance and Capital G04/12048.1 2004 Cairns Port 500,000 Maintenance Cairns Port Authority* 2001 Cairns Port 11,000 31.1.2002 G00/272 2000 Cairns Port 500,000 Maintenance Total 25,024,000 (3) In assessing environmental impacts, including potential impacts of commercial shipping, at both an individual action and broader regional scale, the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities draws on a range of information sources. However, the information requested is not available through this portfolio in the format sought. The Bureau of Resources and Energy Economics report, Australian bulk commodity exports and infrastructure – outlook to 2025, July 2012, provides forecasts for a range of coal and mineral commodity exports. In addition, the preliminary draft Abbot Point Cumulative Impact Assessment, October 2012, provides forecasts of shipping from that port to 2032 and notes trends in shipping levels for all main Great Barrier Reef ports. The forecasts contained in the Cumulative Impact Assessment are not necessarily endorsed by the Australian Government.