Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, upon notice, on 24 August 2012.

With reference to projections of dredging, spoil dumping and shipping within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area:

(1) (a) To date, what is the total quantity of dredging that has been approved, or applied for, within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area since 16 July 2000; and (b) for each dredging operation, can a breakdown be provided detailing: (i) with which development the dredging is associated, (ii) the location and quantities of dredge spoil involved, (iii) the timeframes for dredging activity, and (iv) whether the figures include maintenance dredging.

(2) (a) To date, what is the total quantity of dredge spoil that has been approved, or applied for, to be dumped offshore within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, since 16 July 2000; and (b) for each dredging operation, can a breakdown be provided detailing: (i) with which development the dumping is associated, (ii) the location and quantities of dredge spoil involved, (iii) the timeframes for dumping, and (iv) whether the figures include any dumping associated with maintenance dredging.

(3) (a) What are the current and projected levels of non-recreational shipping transiting, with or without docking, through the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area; and (b) can a breakdown of these figures be provided, including the: (i) industries, (ii) commodities, and (iii) ports or port developments with which the current and projected shipping levels are associated.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

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.

(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.

Proposals involving dredging in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area being assessed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

(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.

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.

(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.