About the publication
A healthy, pollution-free, marine environment is vital for Australia's current and future wellbeing. Australia has entered international agreements and created laws to help preserve marine ecosystems.
The main international agreement on sea dumping is the London Convention and Protocol. Australia's obligations to the agreement are met through the Commonwealth Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Act 1981 (the Sea Dumping Act).
Through the Sea Dumping Act, the Australian Government:
- assesses proposals to load and dump wastes and other matter at sea
- grants permits for acceptable activities, and
- sets conditions reduce and manage environmental impacts.
The National Assessment Guidelines for Dredging outline how we assess the environmental impacts of ocean disposal of dredged material. The framework covers:
- alternatives to ocean disposal
- assessment of loading and disposal sites
- potential impacts on the marine environment and other users
- management and monitoring.
The guidelines give clearer expectations on what should be included in an application. It also has guidance on how an application is assessed, and sets out how to plan for longer-term management. The guidelines should be read in conjunction with:
- the Sea Dumping Act and its Regulations
- the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act)
- the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 (GBRMP Act)
- the below clarification on tributyltin (TBT)
- updated guideline values. For example, for water quality values, use the water quality guidelines and for PFAS use the PFAS National Environmental Management Plan 3.0, and
- Australia's international obligations outlined in the London Protocol.
TBT is a toxic and persistent marine pollutant. It occurs in anti-fouling paint found on some older boats and marine structures. As a result, TBT is often concentrated in harbours, ports, and other dredging sites.
TBT behaves in a specific way in marine sediments, so we made a decision tree and explanatory note to help assess these sediments. Please use this rather than Figure 3 of the Guidelines (page 12), when assessing TBT.
Decision tree and explanatory note for assessment of tributyltin (TBT) in dredge spoil (PDF 1.13 MB)
Decision tree and explanatory note for assessment of tributyltin (TBT) in dredge spoil (DOCX 393 KB)