Mid West Aquaculture Zone

Project
Proponent
Department of Fisheries
Proposal description

The Department of Fisheries, on behalf of the Minister for Fisheries proposes to create an ‘Aquaculture Development Zone’ to provide a management precinct for prospective future aquaculture proposals within State Waters, approximately 75 kilometres west of Geraldton within the Fish Habitat Protection Area of the Abrolhos Islands.

The strategic proposal area has been selected by the proponent to maximise suitability for marine finfish aquaculture, and minimise potential impacts on existing marine communities and disruption to existing human use. The strategic proposal, also known as the Mid West Aquaculture Development Zone (MWADZ), is proposed to encompass an area of 3,000 hectares (ha) within the identified 5,200 ha study site. The study site comprises two areas: a 4400 ha area located in Middle Channel, between the Easter Group and Wallabi Group; and a 800 ha study area located in Zeewijk Channel, between Pelsaert Group and Easter Group of the Abrolhos Islands.

Assessment Number
1972
Region
Mid West
Referred under EP Act
s38
Industry sector
Aquaculture
Last updated
Related EPA Media Statement
EPA recommends approval for new Mid West aquaculture zone
Current Status
Ministerial Statement published
1. Referral
Comment on this referral
Mid West Aquaculture Zone (waters adjacent to the Shire of Northampton)
Referral documentation
Referral form (PDF, 2.93 MB)
Referral background information (PDF, 139.96 KB)
Map of study areas (PDF, 920.69 KB)
2. Decision on whether to assess this proposal
Chair's Determination
Assess - Public Environmental Review
Extract of determination
1972-ChairDets-130513.pdf (PDF, 126.66 KB)
Preliminary Environmental Factors
Benthic Communities and Habitats
Marine Environmental Quality
Marine Fauna
Date published
3. Assessment
Scoping
Environmental scoping document
Mid West Aquaculture Development Zone (PDF, 189.36 KB)
Approved
Environmental Review
Make a submission
Public Environmental Review - Mid West Aquaculture Development Zone
Environmental Review documentation
MWADZ Public Environmental Review (PDF, 10.35 MB)
Appendix 1 - Modelling and technical studies (PDF, 12.19 MB)
Appendix 1A - Marine mammals EIA (PDF, 477.97 KB)
Appendix 1B - Endangered threatened protected species risk assessment (PDF, 876.9 KB)
Appendix 1C - Invertebrate and finfish species and fisheries risk assessment (PDF, 996.2 KB)
Appendix 1D - Seabirds EIA (PDF, 5.75 MB)
Appendix 1E - Peer review EIA (PDF, 142.39 KB)
Appendix 1F - Hydro model calibration EIA (PDF, 5.17 MB)
Appendix 1G - Diagenesis calibration EIA (PDF, 3.26 MB)
Appendix 2 - Environmental monitoring and management plan EMMP (PDF, 2.57 MB)
Appendix 2A - Map of sampling site co-ordinates EMMP (PDF, 304.82 KB)
Appendix 2B - Control charting EMMP (PDF, 529.55 KB)
Appendix 3 - Draft management policy (PDF, 726.5 KB)
Appendix 4 - Biosecurity risk assessment (PDF, 1008.22 KB)
Appendix 5 - Marine fauna interaction management plan (PDF, 741.71 KB)
Appendix 6 - Waste management plan (PDF, 792.41 KB)
Appendix 7 - Environmental scoping document (PDF, 1.66 MB)
Appendix 8 - Environmental impact assessment checklist (PDF, 75.96 KB)
Proponent response to submissions
Summary of submissions and proponent’s response to submissions (PDF, 3.19 MB)
4. EPA Report on assessment
EPA Report Number
1593
EPA Report
Mid West Aquaculture Development Zone (PDF, 2.7 MB)
Key Environmental Factors
Benthic Communities and Habitats
Marine Environmental Quality
Marine Fauna
Date published
Appeals close
5. Decision on proposal and implementation of proposal
Ministerial Statement
Date of approval
Ministerial Statement
Ministerial Statement 1058 (PDF, 490.21 KB)
Derived proposals
Derived proposal 1
Proponent
Huon Aquaculture Company Pty Ltd
Summary

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) at its meeting 1144 dated 17 September 2020, declared the Huon Aquaculture Yellowtail Kingfish Aquaculture Development to be a derived proposal in accordance with section 39B of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act).

A Notice has been issued by the Minister for Environment under s45A of the EP Act, in relation to the Huon Aquaculture Yellowtail Kingfish Aquaculture Development proposal.

  1. The implementation agreement previously made in relation to the derived proposal has taken effect on 2 October 2020.
  2. Implementation Conditions 1 to 7 of Statement No. 1058 published 17 July 2017 apply to this Derived Proposal.

Seven-day comment on derived proposal request: https://consultation.epa.wa.gov.au/seven-day-comment-on-referrals/huon-aquaculture-project-derived-proposal/

Date of approval
Derived Proposal File
MWADZ Derived Proposal 1 EPA s39B Notice.pdf (PDF, 568.89 KB)
MWADZ Derived Proposal 1 s39B public record.pdf (PDF, 186.83 KB)
MWADZ Derived Proposal 1 Statement of Reasons.pdf (PDF, 102.96 KB)
Mid West Aquaculture Development Zone S45A Notice 1.pdf (PDF, 1.19 MB)
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