Compton Lagoon. Photo by A. Cianchi

The Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands (HIMI) Environment Protection and Management Ordinance 1987 (the EPMO) provides that a person may only enter the HIMI Territory (which includes the 12 nautical miles territorial sea) in accordance with a permit issued under that Ordinance, or during the course of an emergency, or in the performance of the duties of that person as an inspector appointed under the EPMO.

The EPMO also provides that a person may only carry out certain actions in the Territory in accordance with a permit issued under the EPMO. These actions include:

• bring any organism into the Territory;
• bring any dead poultry or poultry products into the Territory;
• take, injure, remove or engage in conduct that results in death or injury to, or interference with any organism;
• land an aircraft, drive a vehicle or sail a vessel;
• leave any equipment, material or refuse;
• introduce or remove any soil or other geological matter or engage in conduct that results in interference to any soil or other geological matter;
• collect any material; and
• engage in conduct that results in interference with any buildings, historical relics, equipment, supplies or survey markers.

A permit will not be issued to authorise a person to take, injure or otherwise interfere with any organisms, or collect any material unless:

• the number of organisms of any species that may be taken or killed in that year by virtue of that permit and any other permit will be replaced by natural reproduction in the next breeding season; and
• the activity is for providing specimens for scientific research, public education or other educational or cultural purposes.

An EPMO permit would also be required for the following activities, although it is likely that a permit would only be issued in exceptional circumstances:

• engage in conduct that results in interference to the conduct of a scientific experiment that is the subject of a permit.
• engage in conduct that results in a living organism that has been introduced into the Territory escaping in the Territory.

The following activities are prohibited in the Territory and will not be authorised by a permit:

• the bringing into the Territory of any diseased organism or live poultry; and
• mineral resource or fishing activity within the Territory.

Before a permit can be granted the proposed activity must undergo an environmental impact assessment. Depending on the activity proposed, there may be other environmental approval and permit requirements to consider. In particular, if you propose to conduct research that may disturb or interfere with seabirds or marine mammals, it is likely that you will require additional permits under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Also, proposals to conduct activities within the HIMI Marine Reserve, but outisde the Territory, may require a permit under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2000.

Proponents are encouraged to make early contact with the AAD regarding proposed activities at HIMI, and permit applications forms should be submitted no less than six to eight weeks prior to departure of the ship to the subantarctic.

The Ordinance requires permit details to be published in the Government Notices Gazette. The Australian Antarctic Division publishes a notice containing details of any permit application as soon as practicable after it has been received and another notice once a permit decision has been made.

All visitors to the Territory need to be fully self-sufficient and will be required to indemnify the Commonwealth from any liability arising from an accident, and where appropriate, to have suitable public liability insurance.

Proposed variations to permitted activities are required to go through a similar environmental assessment and permits process to the original application.

Permit-holders are generally required, as a condition of permit, to provide a report on compliance with permit conditions within 60 days after expiration of the permit. This requirement is additional to Antarctic Science Advisory Committee (ASAC) or Antarctic Animal Ethics Committee (AAEC) reporting requirements.

Permits or authorisations issued under the EPMO or the under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2000 will include a condition requiring compliance with the prescriptions of the HIMI Marine Reserve Management Plan.

Permit application forms are to be completed and returned to the Environmental Policy and Protection Section of the Australian Antarctic Division, Channel Highway, Kingston, Tasmania 7050. Application forms should be submitted no less than six to eight weeks prior to departure of the ship to the subantarctic.

For queries relating to the HIMI permits process, go to the Contact Us page of this website and choose the topic Permits. Queries in relation to tourist visits should also be directed to Tourism.