The EPA's comments are attached.

Please see attached formal DPI response for the above project.

Submission is attached

Please be advised that Sutherland Shire Council sees no issues with the proposal contained within this particular Application.

OEH has reviewed this proposed modification and have no comments to make.

RMS has reviewed the modified proposal and raises no objections to it. It has formed the view that it will not pose a risk to navigation or affect the normal use of the waterway but requests that adequate signage warning of the cables is placed on the foreshore.

I am a diver and I regularly dive at both Bare Island and Kurnell. I am also a marine biologist. I have read through the proposal for the Botany Bay Cable Project MOD 4 EA and I have some issues with the document and project.

While it appears that the preferred options of "Do nothing" for the Shipping Channel and "Regular inspections and application of concrete filled hessian bags" for the HDD transition point will have very little impact on the area, I feel that there has been little to no consultation with the diving community and the Environmental Impact Assessment is grossly inadequate with respect to the species present and potential impact to them.

The report acknowledges the use of Botany Bay by recreational divers but I am not aware of any dive centres or shops that use Bare Island or Kurnell being contacted to inform them of the project or request input. Divers are the people most impacted by any disturbances to the seabed even up to a kilometre away. Each time there has been dredging in the bay (e.g. the deal plant, or the airport) there has been a significant impact to visibility to the various dive sites. I think it is important that dive groups be consulted and provide input.

Bare Island, Kurnell and their surrounds are home to populations of weedy seadragons, 2 species of seahorses, a species of pygmy pipehorse (which are pretty much only found around Botany Bay), and at least 4 species of pipefish. Additionally, there are two species of ghostpipefish which can be found in the area. Additionally, there is a newly described species of anglerfish, which has only been found in Botany Bay and surrounds. All of these can be impacted by any disturbance to the seabed. It is interesting to note that there was a healthy population of weedy seadragons on the north western corner of Bare Island up to around the time of the original cable project (2009) They are no longer seen. While this may only be a coincidence it is quite possible that the original cable project was responsible for their demise. I have only seen 2 weedy seadragons in the area since 2009.

With more dredging work coming up in the next few years it is important that proper consultation is undertaken and thorough listing of species and potential impact is considered.