Government 'orders investigation into Tiwi Island deep sea port'

The Federal Government has reportedly ordered an investigation into a new deep sea port in the Tiwi Islands after it was revealed that no official environmental impact assessments had been conducted in relation to the project.

An ocean freighter loads hardwood bound for China from Port Melville in Tiwi Islands, located 80km north of Darwin, Feb 10, 2006. (AAP/Terry Trewin)

The Federal Environment Minister has reportedly ordered an investigation into a new deep sea port in the Tiwi Islands after concerns were raised about its impact on traditional owners and wildlife.

The announcement came after the ABC reported the 'internationally significant' area for wildlife in the Tiwi Islands had been turned into a deep sea port, despite no official environmental impact assessments.

The ABC reported that while the Territory's Chief Minister welcomed the move, concerns had been expressed about the port's impact on traditional owners and the "internationally significant" environment.

It said Singaporean owner Ausgroup was currently promoting Port Melville, located in the Tiwi Islands, as a marine supply base for offshore oil and gas industries.

A spokesman for Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt today said in a statement:"The Minister has ordered that this be investigated as a matter of priority.”

"The department is currently examining a range of information acquired in relation to the proposal to determine if a contravention of the EPBC Act has, or is likely to result from the construction works to date,” the spokesman said.

The deep sea port is reportedly near completion, even though an environmental impact assessment has not been made.

Under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, any projects with a "matter of national environmental significance" must be referred to the government for assessment.

But a Department of the Environment spokeswoman told the ABC, a referral of the Port Melville project has not been made. 

A Northern Territory government report has listed the Tiwi Islands as being of "international significance", with many species not recorded anywhere else in the Northern Territory, or in the world. Some 19 animals and 19 plants are listed as threatened at the Northern Territory or national level.

Northern Territory Chief Minister Adam Giles, second from right, embraces Tiwi islands elder Cyril Kaaippa Rioli as he shakes hands with Port Melville chairman Andrew Tipungwuti on Melville Island on Thursday March 5, 2015.(AAP Image/Neda Vanovac)

Earlier, Senator Nova Peris said she had formally asked Environment Minister Greg Hunt to investigate the situation. 

"I have specifically requested that the Minister investigate whether the construction breaches the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Act," said Ms Peris in a statement released Tuesday.

Senator Peris also wants Mr Hunt to order Ausgroup to cease operations while that study is belatedly completed.

"I have been contacted by concerned residents and traditional owners of the Tiwi Islands regarding the construction and its impact on their waterways and the large number of threatened plant and animal species it supports.

"I also raised these matters with the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Senator Nigel Scullion, during Estimates in October last year."

Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion said he assumed an environmental impact study had been done when questioned during estimates last October. 

Greens Senator for Queensland Larissa Waters slammed the the lack of environmental assessments.