Consulting on your sea dumping permit

If you are applying for a sea dumping permit, you must consult relevant stakeholders. You need to do this before you submit your application.

You need to consider how your project affects other users of the sea. Other users of the sea can include:

advisory bodies
government authorities
local interest groups
environmental organisations
First Nations peoples, communities, groups, and organisations.

We will consider the interests of these stakeholders when assessing your application. This is required by the 1996 Protocol to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, 1972.

Documenting your consultation

You must document your consultation in your application. You will need to attach records to your application, providing:

name, address and contact details of the organisation or person(s) you consulted
date(s) and method of consultation
information you provided to the stakeholder
whether you received a reply or comment, and the date you received it
a summary of any requirements, comments or concerns the stakeholder raised
your response to their concerns, or reasons for inaction.

You need to include a summary of this information in the table provided in the application form.

Your records must show you made a genuine effort to consult with all relevant stakeholders. Your consultation must be current and address the action you are proposing. You must have a record of responses from all contacted stakeholders. If a relevant stakeholder doesn't respond, show that you tried again and looked for other ways to reach them.

If your proposal changes at any time, you may need to consult again.

Conducting a consultation

You should give stakeholders enough information to know how your proposal might affect them. Consultation can include:

holding community meetings
running advertisements on social media, websites or newspapers
sending out direct mail or email
conducting formal written consultation.

A formal written consultation is a good way to provide stakeholders with details of your proposal. Include the:

alternatives you investigated
nature of the proposal and activities required to deliver it
proposed location and timing
predicted impacts
mitigation measures
your proposals for the activity and how you will continue to manage and monitor it going forward.

You need to give stakeholders an avenue to provide feedback on your proposal. Pick a type of consultation that will provide the best results.

Which stakeholders to engage with

Who you need to consult will depend on the nature and circumstances of your proposal. You should aim for wide and inclusive consultation with stakeholders.

Read these lists to find potential stakeholders. These are not exhaustive. You may need to consult other stakeholders.

Government stakeholders

You may need to consult the following government agencies:

Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA)
Australian Hydrographic Office
Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA)
Biosecurity section of relevant state and Commonwealth departments
Department of Industry, Science and Resources
National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA)
Offshore Infrastructure Regulator
Director of National Parks (if your proposal is in or impacts an Australian Marine Park).

You may need to consult state and territory agencies. This could include agencies that look after:

environment protection, conservation and management
marine conservation and management of marine protected areas
native title and Indigenous heritage protection
ports, harbours, marine transport and navigation safety
offshore petroleum and seabed minerals activities
fishing and aquaculture
regional development and tourism
underwater cultural heritage protection.

Non-government stakeholders

Examples of potential non-government stakeholders include:

local and regional councils
local and regional environment, conservation and maritime heritage groups
chambers of commerce and other community representatives
local clubs and businesses associated with diving, boating, fishing and marine tourism
commercial fishing industry bodies and commercial fishing operators
local aquaculture operators
recreational fishing associations
recreational diving groups
local sea rescue organisations and surf lifesaving clubs
advisory committees, for example port Technical Advisory and Consultative Committees (TACCs).

First Nations engagement

Your proposed project could affect various First Nations peoples, communities, groups, and organisations. These may include:

Traditional Owner organisations
Native Title holders and claimants
Native Title Prescribed Bodies Corporate and Representative Bodies
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander landowners and trustees
Land Councils.

Find out more about consulting with First Nations peoples.

Contact us early to discuss your application. We will answer your questions and help you meet your requirements. Engage early to prevent delays that may arise from not enough information.

Contact us

Email seadumping@dcceew.gov.au.