The Port of Melbourne Corporation (PoMC) is overseeing the channel deepening project. Dredging will deepen sections of the existing main shipping channels in Port Phillip Bay to allow vessels 14m draught access at all tides. 

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).

For detailed information on the dredging schedule visit the schedule.

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.

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.

The City of Port Phillip is a member of the Association of Bayside Municipalities (ABM). The ABM is an association of the ten councils that border Port Phillip Bay, from the Mornington Peninsula to Queenscliffe. It was formed 30 years ago to address issues of common concern to Bayside councils and as a focus for collective action.

The ABM have been actively involved in the Channel Deepening Project and continue to monitor progress and to lobby government, the Port of Melbourne Corporation and other bodies to ensure the highest environmental standards are met for the protection of the Port Phillip Bay environment. 

The Australian Conservation Foundation established BayMonitor, with the support of the Association of Bayside Municipalities (of which the City of Port Phillip is a member), a community monitoring program that will keep Victorians informed about the effects of the dredging program that's happening in Port Phillip Bay. The City of Port Phillip contributed funding to the BayMonitor project to specifically assess the impacts of dredging on the St Kilda penguin colony.

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