Phase III Cone Bay Marine Finfish Farming

Overview

This proposal has been referred by Marine Produce Australia Pty Ltd  for the expansion of their existing aquaculture production by 8,010 tonnes per annum (which will allow a total of up to 15,000 tonnes per annum to be produced).  Marine Produce Australia Pty Ltd is seeking this proposal to be considered a derived proposal of the Kimberley Aquaculture Development Zone Strategic Proposal - Ministerial Statement 966.

Having received this referral and request, the EPA is required to consider whether to declare the referred proposal to be a derived proposal under section 39B of the Environmental Protection Act 1986.

In making its decision whether to declare the referred proposal derived, the EPA will consider the following:

1. Was the referred proposal identified in an assessed strategic proposal?

2.  Was a decision/agreement made that the referred proposal could be implemented?

3.  Does the referred proposal raise environmental issues that were not adequately assessed when the strategic proposal was assessed?

4. Is there significant new or additional information that justifies reassessment of issues raised by the referred proposal?

5.  Has there been a significant change in the relevant environmental factors since the strategic proposal was assessed?

With reference to the five points above, this is your opportunity to give us your views on whether or not this referral should be declared a derived proposal, and to provide information to support your view.
 

Why your views matter

At this initial stage of the EIA process, comment is simply sought on whether or not the EPA should assess a proposal and, if so, what level of assessment is considered appropriate.

The following diagram shows the stage this referral is at:

What happens next

Following the seven day public comment period and consideration of any comments received, the EPA will decide whether or not this proposal requires environmental impact assessment and, if so, what level of assessment will be applied.

The Chairman's decisions on level of assessment are released each Monday on the EPA's website.