Clean up authorisation issued to prevent further harm to St Kilda mangroves

As part of a coordinated state government response, the Department for Energy and Mining (DEM) is stepping up site activities this week to prevent further harm to the St Kilda mangroves.

The state government will install additional pumps to accelerate the movement of water at the Dry Creek salt fields. This will assist the existing actions being taken to prevent further environmental harm to the mangrove environment adjacent to the Dry Creek salt field.

This activity has been made possible through a Clean Up Authorisation (CUA) under the Environment Protection Act 1993.

The CUA comes after successful government trials of new pumping equipment at the site last week and enables Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Authorised Officers to undertake water pumping on the salt field site and to recover costs from the company. The pumping is expected to continue for a number of months.

This work will complement activity that is already being undertaken by licensee Buckland Dry Creek (BDC), following directions previously issued by DEM.

Experts from DEM, the Department for Environment and Water (DEW), the EPA and external consultants continue to collaborate to stop further environmental harm to the mangrove environment and promote conditions for recovery of the impacted area.

DEM regulates the site under the Mining Act 1971 through the mining lease it holds with BDC.

BDC also has a license under the Environment Protection Act 1993 for chemical storage and warehousing facilities, chemical works (salt production) and discharges to marine or inland waters, which is overseen by the EPA.

Further information about the coordinated state government response can be found on the Dry Creek Salt Field page of this website.

Monday 1 March 2021