Upgrade of multi-user seawater supply and introduction of wastewater to ocean outfall, Burrup Peninsula (s46)

Project

Proponent:

Proposal description:

The Water Corporation submitted a proposal 'Burrup Peninsula Desalinated Water and Seawater Supplies Project' in May 2001 (Water Corporation, 2001a) to service the requirements of new industrial developments on the Burrup Peninsula. The proposed scheme was designed to supply seawater and desalinated water to the Syntroleum Sweetwater Corporation (Syntroleum) gas to liquids plant, with additional capacity to supply one or possibly two other process plants. The EPA released its report (EPA, 2001) in May 2001 and approval was granted in June 2001 (Ministerial Statement 567) for a 6.5 megalitres per day (ML/d) thermal desalination plant to be located on Syntroleum's lease and for a seawater supply (100 ML/d) and brine discharge (77 ML/d) system.

Inquiry under s46 into a request to upgrade the original proposal to include the provision of water supply to other industrial process plants proposed for the Burrup Peninsula. The proponent estimates the total seawater demand and brine discharge of these plants to be 280 ML/d and 208 ML/d respectively. The proposal also allows for the disposal of industrial wastewater with the brine discharge.

Assessment Number:

1419

Region:

Pilbara

Referred under EP Act:

s46

Industry sector:

Infrastructure

Last updated:

August 25, 2025

Current Status:

Ministerial Statement published

2. Decision on whether to assess this proposal

Chair's Determination:

s46 request for a change to environmental conditions (not subject to appeal): Public Notification

Extract of determination:

Chair Determination - Upgrade of Multi-user seawater supply system and introduction of wastewater to ocean outfall Burrup Peninsula.pdf

Preliminary Environmental Factors:

Marine Environmental Quality

Flora and Vegetation

Terrestrial Fauna

Date published:

Monday, 4 February, 2002

4. EPA Report on assessment

EPA Report Number:

1044

EPA Report:

EPA Report 1044

Key Environmental Factors:

Marine Environmental Quality

Flora and Vegetation

Terrestrial Fauna

Date published:

Monday, 25 March, 2002

Appeals close:

Monday, 8 April, 2002

5. Decision on proposal and implementation of proposal

Ministerial Statement

Date of approval:

Wednesday, 5 June, 2002

Ministerial Statement:

Ministerial Statement 594.pdf

Post-assessment changes

s. 45C amendments:

Attachment 1 to Statement 594 - Construct and operate alternative seawater intake pump system - change to proposal approved on 5 March 2010.

Attachment 2 to Statement 594 - Construct and operate a six gigalitre per annum reverse osmosis desalination plant to supply industry and domestic customers. - change to proposal approved on 6 August 2010.

Attachment 3 to Statement 594 – Define the development envelope using spatial coordinates (Replace Figure 2 of MS 594 with defined development envelope in schedule 3 (new)). Increase development envelope by 1.44 ha, from 17.96 to 19.40 ha. Increase in clearing by 0.26 ha, from 6.36 to 6.62 ha. Delete in Table 2 the element Operational Noise, and description: Seawater intake system: “less than 70 dB(A) at 1 metre from pump well”. Change to proposal approved under s45C on 19 April 2024.

Attachment 4 to Statement 594 - Replaces Figure 1 of MS 594 Attachment 3 with amended development envelope and disturbance footprint Figure 1 of MS 594 Attachment 4. Increase development envelope from 19.40 to 19.63 ha. Increase disturbance footprint from 8.23 to 8.65 ha. Change to proposal approved under s45C on 25 August 2025

Attachments:

Attachment 4 - Notice and Summary of Reasons.pdf

Attachment 4 - Attachment 1 Development Envelope and Disturbance Footprint.pdf

Date of approval s. 45C:

Friday, 5 March, 2010

Friday, 6 August, 2010

Friday, 19 April, 2024

Monday, 25 August, 2025