What is channel deepening?

Dredging will deepen sections of the existing main shipping channels in Port Phillip Bay to allow vessels 14m draught access at all tides. Dredging is the process by which sand, silt, mud and rock is removed from the bottom of Port Phillip Bay.

A Trailer Suction Hopper Dredge (TSHD), the Queen of the Netherlands, will be used to carry out most of the dredging works in Port Phillip Bay. A Backhoe Dredge will be used in areas inaccessible to a TSHD, such as part of the Yarra River Channel. It is anticipated a Grab Dredge will be used to dredge berth pockets, inaccessible to a TSHD, which contain contaminated sediments. Other contingency equipment may be required to assist the dredging works and reduce potential impacts of the project.

Dredging will take place in four areas:

• Yarra River & Williamstown Channels (in the Yarra River & Hobsons Bay)
• Port Melbourne Channel (in the North of the Bay)
• South Channel (in the South of the Bay)
• The Great Ship Channel (in the Entrance).

Why is it happening?

Around the world there is a trend towards the use of larger and deeper container ships. Channel deepening will enable these ships access to Port Phillip Bay.

Who is doing it?

The Port of Melbourne Corporation (PoMC) is overseeing the project. They have entered into an alliance agreement with Royal Boskalis, an international dredging contractor.

Who is monitoring it?

The Office of the Environmental Monitor (OEM) is monitoring the project.

The Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for the project has been approved by both the State Minister for the Environment, Gavin Jennings and the Federal Minister for the Environment, Peter Garrett. The EMP provides the 'rulebook' and the OEM monitors whether the dredging complies with what is in the EMP. The OEM can request the PoMC provide them with additional information, however they cannot order the PoMC to stop the dredging works. The OEM is allowed to make information public. The independent environmental monitor, Mr Mick Bourke, will advise both the PoMC and relevant Ministers on the delivery of the project in accordance with the EMP.

Environmental monitoring aims to enable assessment of the project's environmental performance by measuring compliance with the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) and provide information on the long term status or health of key species, habitats and ecological processes in Port Phillip Bay.

A variety of monitoring programs will be implemented during the project and many will continue after the project's completion to monitor the recovery process and allow for the continued protection of the unique environmental assets of the bay.

Environmental monitoring will be conducted through two main monitoring programs:

• EMP monitoring program: The monitoring of environmental conditions such as turbidity and noise from dredging operations.
• Baywide monitoring program: The monitoring of bay wide environmental conditions, such as water quality and seagrass.

When is it happening?

No dredging between 18 December to 31 January in the South of Port Phillip Bay - due to the peak holiday season.

Restricted dredging in the Williamstown Channel between 1 December to 28 February - which is a key anchovy spawning period

No dredging in the Yarra and Williamstown Channels with the main dredger during Spring - a period of fish migration

For more detailed information on the dredging schedule visit the schedule.

What is CoPP's role?

CoPP has no direct role in the project. However, CoPP is the first port of call for our community for information and as such we need to have an understanding of the timing of the works as they may impact on events we run and our community. Through the Assocation of Bayside Municipalities (ABM), CoPP has been lobbying for tighter scrutiny of the environmental impacts of the project, particularly around the frequency of release of monitoring information.

What does council think?

Council has always maintained the position that we support the Channel Deepening Project as long as it doesn't have irreversible environmental impacts. We have been pushing for more information on the monitoring of the project to be released more frequently to local government. Council is also very concerned that the monitoring of the little penguins does not include monitoring of the St Kilda colony, but is only monitoring the Phillip Island colony.

Who to contact for more info?

Port of Melbourne Corporation
Tel: 1800 731 022
Website: www.channelproject.com (daily web updates on the project)
Email channelproject@portofmelbourne.com

Office of the Environmental Monitor
Website: www.oem.vic.gov.au
Email contact.us@oem.vic.gov.au

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