Overview of the Channel Deepening Project

The channel deepening project will deepen sections of the shipping channels to the Port of Melbourne to accommodate vessels with a draught of up to 14 metres.

The project has received approval from the state of Victoria under the Coastal Management Act 1995, and the commonwealth under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Works are due to commence works in early 2008.

On this page:

• EPA’s involvement in the Channel Deepening Project
• EPA and the Independent Monitor
• Supplementary Environment Effects Statement (SEES)
• Trial Dredge Program - EPA Final Audit Reports

 

EPA’s involvement in the Channel Deepening Project

EPA has worked over several years to ensure that key environmental issues associated with the Channel Deepening Project are identified and managed.

EPA has made independent submissions to both the original Environmental Effects Statement (EES) and the more recent Supplementary Environment Effects Statement (SEES) inquiry.

EPA has been monitoring water quality in Port Phillip Bay for 30 years and is expanding its monitoring program for the duration of the dredging and for two years following the completion of the dredge program, by undertaking samples at 11 sites across the Bay. A number of parameters will be tested for, including lead, mercury and arsenic as part of the Baywide monitoring programs outlined in the Environmental Management Plan.

In addition, EPA will undertake other monitoring of the impacts of the project, including monitoring contaminant concentrations in fish.

EPA will provide support to the independent environmental monitor as may be required, and will investigate reports of pollution.

EPA has made the powers it holds under the Environment Protection Act 1970 more widely available, to ensure that all parties involved in the day to day regulation of the project have all relevant powers at their disposal.

The Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) administers the Coastal Management Act consent (the main Victorian environmental approval for the project) on behalf of the Minister for the Environment. EPA will support the Secretary in his role of ensuring the Port of Melbourne Corporation (PoMC) complies with the terms of its approval.

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EPA and the Independent Monitor

Mick Bourke, Chairman of EPA has been appointed as the Independent Monitor for the Channel Deepening Project to advise relevant Ministers and Secretary DSE on the environmental performance of Port of Melbourne Corporation.

During this period, Mick Bourke will remain Chairman of EPA.  For the purposes of the Channel Deepening Project all powers and responsibilities under the Environment Protection Act, have been delegated to other senior staff at EPA to enable appropriate separation of roles.

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Supplementary Environment Effects Statement (SEES)

On 21 March 2007 the Port of Melbourne Corporation (PoMC) released its Supplementary Environment Effects Statement (SEES) for the further investigation and assessment of the Channel Deepening Project. The SEES incorporates information from the original Environment Effects Statement (EES), the Trial Dredge Program, and additional environmental studies of Port Phillip Bay.

For further details and information about the assessment of the Channel Deepening Project, refer to the Department of Sustainability and Environment website. 

Through the development of the SEES, EPA has provided advice regarding the statutory requirements under the Environment Protection Act 1970 and associated State environment protection policies. This has included guidance on the application of ‘best practice’ environmental management, as set out in the State environment protection policy (Waters of Victoria), to dredging in Port Phillip Bay.

View advice regarding the application of Best Practice to the Channel Deepening Project. (Adobe PDF file, 70KB)

EPA made a submission to Planning Panels Victoria on 7 May 2007, to assist the Inquiry to understand the obligations on the PoMC and others arising from the Environment Protection Act 1970 and relevant subordinate legislation. 

View the EPA submission to the Channel Deepening Project SEES. (Adobe PDF file, 279 KB)

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Trial Dredge Program - EPA Final Audit Reports

The EES independent panel report released in February 2005 recommended that a trial dredge program be undertaken to determine:

• The environmental characteristics of the proposed technology in the field.
• The specific tidal and current conditions that will best protect the canyon from rock fall.
• The proposed tidal and potential sea condition windows that the works can be safely achieved in the vicinity of commercial and recreational vessels transiting the rip.
• A quantitative risk assessment of the works with the view to ensuring acceptable risk criteria are met.
• That all of the above works inform the economic analysis of the project. 

The trial dredge program was conducted from August to September 2005, with the results informing the development of the supplementary EES.

As part of the trail dredge program, EPA engaged an independent environmental auditor to audit the compliance of PoMC with their Environmental Management Plan (EMP).

On 19 December 2005 EPA Victoria released its environmental audit of the Channel Deepening Project - Trial Dredge Program.

• View media release about the environmental audit

The audit comprised three reports:

On 17 August 2006, EPA released the final Audit report into the Trial Dredge Program undertaken by Port of Melbourne Corporation (PoMC). The audit assessed the impact of rock fall in the Port Phillip Heads as a result of the trial dredge program.

• View media release on the audit assessment of rock fall impact
  

 

For further details and information about the Channel Deepening Project - Trial Dredging Program, refer to the Port of Melbourne Corporation's channel deepening website.

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